Rotterdam, Netherlands  - The only Germans in the field at the ABN-AMRO World Tennis crashed out in straight sets on Wednesday with Philipp Kohlschreiber and Rainer Schuettler making first-round exits.

But it was a different story for a French quartet, all of whom advanced with relative ease.

Fourth seed Gilles Simon led the way as he accounted for the 38th-ranked Kohlschreiber 7-5, 7-6 (7-1) two years after the German reached the quarter-finals at the Ahoy centre.

Rotterdam, Netherlands  - Andy Murray double-faulted on a match point but didn't let that slight setback stop his progress in a 6-3, 6-2 first-round defeat of Croatian Ivan Ljubicic at the ABN-AMRO World Tennis on Tuesday.

Murray claimed the opening set against the two-time finalist in 40 minutes, then raced off with the second out to 5-0 before his minor slip-up.

Murray's win came with seven aces and four breaks of the Ljubicic serve on an error-filled night for the Croatian who turns 30 next month.

Belgrade  - Serbia's women's tennis team will be a strong favourite against Spain when the two countries meet in the Fed Cup World Group play-offs this April, Serbian tennis officials said Tuesday.

The matches will be played on April 25 and 26 and the four winning nations will qualify for the 2010 World Group, while the four losers will start in World Group II in 2010.

"I think our opponent is all right... I'm happy with the draw," Serbia's Fed Cup representation selector Dejan Vranes was quoted as saying.

Rotterdam, Netherlands  - Rafael Nadal got back to work on court eight days after his historic Australian Open title, adjusting to indoor conditions during a doubles loss on Monday at the ABN-AMRO World Tennis.

The Spanish world number one teamed with fellow Mallorcan Ignacio Coll-Ruidavets but the wild card pair lost to experienced Frenchman Michael Llodra - last year's singles champion - and compatriot Arnaud Clement 6-3, 6-4.

New Delhi, Feb. 6, (ANI): Young tennis sensation Yuki Bhambri on Friday said that he is focussing on playing singles for the time being. "Currently I''''''''m focusing on singles and doubles for me mean a lot of fun and learning experience because in doubles we can practice our volley and serve which is very helpful in playing singles," Yuki Bhambri said.

Sixteen-year-old Yuki Bhambri became the first Indian to win the junior boys title at the Australian Open. He was speaking at a store launch here.

Bhambri was presented a shoe shaped memento on the occasion, which was attended by former tennis great Ramesh Krishnan.

Paris - The hoped-for return of Maria Sharapova has now likely been pushed back to the Indian Wells event in early March in California after the injured former number 1 Russian withdrew from next week's indoor tournament in Paris.

Sharapova missed her Australian Open title defence and has played only one match since Wimbledon in July as she defeated Poland's Marta Domachowska in Montreal before being forced to quit that event.