Beck upsets Troicki in St Petersburg

Karol Beck of Slovakia has upset third-seeded Viktor Troicki of Serbia 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-4 in the first round of the St Petersburg Open in Russia.

Troicki levelled at a set apiece on Monday after breaking in the tenth game of the second set.

Beck, the 2004 runner-up, set up his victory with a break in the seventh game of the third set. Troicki also lost in the tournament's opening round last year, falling to eventual champion Andy Murray of Britain.

Bjorn Phau of Germany also advanced, beating Russian wildcard Stanislav Vovk 6-3, 6-2 while Rainer Schuettler of Germany, the 2001 runner-up, was ousted by Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan 6-4, 6-4.

Mikhail Youzhny leads the field after winning the Kremlin Cup last week for his fifth career title. He won the event in 2004.