No. 1 Wawrinka, No. 7 Simon eliminated in Vienna; No. 2 Gonzalez advances

Top-seeded Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka and seventh-seeded Frenchman Gilles Simon had their Tennis Masters Cup qualification chances dented after losing on Tuesday at the Bank-Austria Tennis Trophy in Vienna. No. 2 seed Fernando Gonzalez (pictured) survived a scare against Italian Simone Bolelli to advance to the second round and continue racking up points in hopes of earning one of the final four spots in the year end championships in Shanghai.

Wawrinka, who was a finalist last year in Vienna, lost in just over two and a half hours to German qualifier Philipp Petzschner, 6-7(5), 6-2, 7-6(5). The German was able to break serve on seven occasions, while winning 78 percent of his first serve points. Currently ranked No. 125 in the South African Airways ATP Rankings, Petzschner improved his season record to 6-8 and earned his first Top 10 win of his career by defeating Wawrinka. Wawrinka, who won the Beijing Olympic gold medal in doubles with Roger Federer, drops to 37-18 on the year. Next up for Petzschner is Jan Hernych with the winner advancing to the quarterfinals.

No. 7 seed Simon fell victim to Argentine Eduardo Schwank, 4-6, 7-5, 7-6(5) in just over two and a half hours. A singles title winner earlier this year in Indianapolis, Casablanca and Bucharest, Simon drops to 41-22 on the year. Entering this week’s event as No. 12 in the Tennis Masters Cup race standings, Simon won’t be gaining point on No. 8 James Blake, whom he was only 48 points behind. Starting the 2008 season ranked No. 171, Schwank currently stands at No. 54, which is a career best ranking. Schwank has reached one semifinal this year, as well as three quarterfinals. The rising Argentine star has also won three singles titles this year on the ATP Challenger Series. Schwank will next clash with 1998 Roland Garros champion Carlos Moya for a spot in the quarterfinals. Schwank owns a 1-0 edge against the former World No. 1, winning in five sets in the first round of this year’s French Open.

Gonzalez pulled out a come from behind, 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-2, victory over Bolelli to advance to a second round match against Latvian Ernests Gulbis. The victory was very significant for Gonzo since he currently stands at No. 11 in the Tennis Masters Cup race standings and No. 10 Wawrinka fell earlier in the day. This afternoon Gonzalez smashed eight aces compared to Bolelli’s five, but was able to break serve three times, which was one more time than Bolelli. Gonzalez improves to 38-13 on the year that has been highlighted by singles titles in Munich and Vina del Mar and a silver medal at the Beijing Olympics.

Others winners on Day Two in Vienna includes Radek Stepanek and Philipp Kohlschreiber. Stepanek defeated qualifier Pavel Snobel, 6-4, 6-2, while Kohlschreiber easily dispatched Frenchman Marc Gicquel, 6-2, 6-2 in roughly one hour.