Luczak slump deepens with another first-round loss

He has qualified seven times in 2009 on the ATP, including four in a row this fall (US Open, Bangkok, Tokyo and Shanghai).

Australian Peter Luczak sank deeper into a first-round rut, losing for the third straight week in his opening match with a 6-3, 6-4 exit to Czech Jan Henych on Tuesday at the Swiss Indoors.

It's been a northern autumn to forget for the 80th-ranked Luczak, who has been defeated in Stockholm, Vienna and now in Roger Federer's hometown.

His last victory came in mid-September in Buchaest; he stand 2-6 on the ATP level his season.

Swiss hopes fared much better, with Marco Chiudinelli rallying from a final-set deficit to overhaul German eighth seed Philipp Kohlschreiber 7-6 (7/5), 3-6, 7-5.

Second seed Novak Djokovic was making his Basel debut in the first round later against German Andreas Beck, with the winner to face Chiudinelli.

The number 73 Swiss who is playing doubles this week with Federer has been lifting his form in recent months through a US Open third round and also played a last-eight match in Bangkok.

His Basel win in two and a quarter hours ended two weeks of first-round losses in Shanghai and Vienna.

The Swiss notched 11 aces to 15 for his German opponent, with Chiudinelli saving ten of the dozen break points he faced.

He will next play either qualifying compatriot Michael Lammer or Austrian Dani Koellerer.

The 28-year-old Chiudinelli is making his fifth appearance in Basel and has now earned his second win for a 2-4 record after winning his first match here in five years.

He has qualified seven times in 2009 on the ATP, including four in a row this fall (US Open, Bangkok, Tokyo and Shanghai).

He stands third in the Swiss table behind Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka.