Gonzalez, Nalbandian exit LA on day of upsets

American Zack Fleishman produced the biggest upset of the Los Angeles Classic when he knocked out top seed Fernando Gonzalez of Chile 7-6, 6-4 in the opening round on Tuesday.

The 27-year-old from nearby Santa Monica edged the first set 7-5 on a tiebreak and broke his opponent in the third game of the second before sealing the biggest victory of his career in one hour and 17 minutes.

"I beat a top-10 player at my school, at my former college, in my home town and in the place where I have practised since I was nine years old," an elated Fleishman, ranked 162 in the world, told reporters.

"I feel so at home here. I felt like I belonged playing out here. I wasn't nervous. I actually felt like I could play with the best guys.

"The key tonight was to serve well with a high percentage and get the crowd involved. The crowd single-handedly pulled me through. I was just totally thriving on every ounce of energy out there."

It was only the second time in Fleishman's career that he had faced a top-10 player, having lost to Germany's Tommy Haas in the opening round at Wimbledon last month.

World number six Gonzalez, who had treatment on his lower back during the second set, struggled on the slick, hardcourt surface. 

"I think Fleishman served pretty well and the conditions were really fast," the 25-year-old added. "I did three unforced errors on my serve in the second set and that cost me the match."

BEST TENNIS

Earlier, Russian Igor Kunitsyn played the best tennis of his career to stun fourth seed David Nalbandian of Argentina 7-6 7-5.

The 25-year-old from Vladivostok clinched the first set 7-5 on a tiebreak before holding off an inspired Nalbandian fightback.

"It is one of my best victories," a beaming Kunitsyn said after wrapping up the match in just under two hours in sapping heat at the Los Angeles Tennis Center.

"I think I can say it is my second best win. My best win was when I beat (Lleyton) Hewitt in Adelaide in front of a full crowd," he added, referring to his three-set victory over the Australian in January.

Second-seeded American James Blake, back on his favourite hardcourt surface, won his opening encounter 7-5, 6-4 against Austria's Alexander Peya.

"A win's a good feeling, no matter how it happens," said Blake, who is hunting his first ATP tournament success in six months. "I was really pleased with the way I served although my returns I could have done a little better."

Sixth-seeded wildcard Mardy Fish ended an eight-match losing streak by beating his doubles partner and fellow-American Sam Querrey 7-5, 6-4, and Vince Spadea of the US eased past Brazilian Thiago Alves 7-6, 6-2.