Nicolas Mahut's first match since his record-setting exploits at Wimbledon saw the Frenchman beat Colombia's Alejandro Falla 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 at the Hall of Fame Championships Tuesday. The loser of a marathon three-day contest against John Isner at the All England Club, Mahut returned to the court for a first-round match on grass in Newport which lasted 83 minutes - a fraction of his record 11-hour, 5-minute loss at Wimbledon. Along with a tough opponent in Falla, Mahut also had to cope with temperatures reaching the mid-90s to seal his victory. But he told reporters: “Nothing is worse than what I did in Wimbledon. Every match, I pray it will be easier. I can't complain any more.” The Wimbledon match was twice suspended because of darkness before Isner won 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (7), 7-6 (3), 70-68; the 138-game fifth set would itself have been the longest match in tennis history. Top-seeded American Sam Querrey advanced with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over compatriot Jesse Levine, and second-seeded ColombianSantiago Giraldo reached the second round with a 7-6 (7/1), 1-7, 6-4 victory over Austrian Alexander Peya. Ukraine's Sergey Bubka, son of world record pole vaulter and Olympic gold medalist, made his first appearance in an ATP main draw match a winning one with a 7-6, (7-0), 6-4 victory over Australian Chris Guccione. Bubka, 23, came through qualifying Monday to book his berth and next faces fourth-seeded Belgian Olivier Rochus. Hall of Fame CEO Mark Stenning said the tournament warned staff and fans to be prepared for the heat. Extra stations providing free water were available, and the air conditioned Hall of Fame museum and gift shop were available for fans to take refuge. Pennetta in quarters In Sweden, Flavia Pennetta cruised into the quarterfinals of the Swedish Open with a straight-sets 6-1, 6-1 victory over Sloane Stephens of the United States Wednesday. Pennetta will face veteran Jill Craybas next, after the American defeated Anna-Lena Groenefeld of Germany 3-6, 6-0, 6-4. Also advancing was second-seeded Aravane Rezai, who beat Renata Voracova of the Czech Republic 6-4, 6-2 on center court. Rezai next plays fifth-seeded Arantxa Parra Santonja, who beat fellow Spaniard Nuria Llagostera Vives 6-4, 6-3. Also, Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic had to come from behind to beat Karolina Sprem of Croatia 2-6, 7-5, 6-3. Barbora Zahlavova Strycova of the Czech Republic won the final match of the day against Akgul Amanmuradova of Uzbekistan, 3-6, 6-4, 6-0. Schnyder upsets Kleybanova In Budapest, Patty Schnyder of Switzerland has beaten top-seeded Alisa Kleybanova in straight sets in the second round of the Budapest Grand Prix. Schnyder secured a 6-4, 6-3 win Wednesday to set up a quarterfinal match with eighth-seeded Polona Hercog, who rallied to a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 win over Catalina Castano of Colombia. Second-seeded Alexandra Dulgheru's match against Anna Chakvetadze of Russia was suspended due to darkness, at 7-6 (5), 1-6. The winner will face Latvia's Anastasija Sevastova, who defeated fifth-seeded Peng Shuai of China 6-1, 6-1 to earn a spot in the last eight. The tournament continues Thursday with the remaining four second
