Bernard Tomic KO'd quickly in return
KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. -- Bernard Tomic lost the shortest completed ATP match on record Thursday, lasting only 28 minutes at the Sony Open in his first tournament since undergoing surgery on both hips.
Ending a two-month layoff, Tomic won just 13 points and lost to Jarkko Nieminen 6-0, 6-1. It was the quickest match since the ATP started keeping such records in 1991.
Nieminen lost only three points in seven service games. The first set took just 13 minutes; the second was only slightly more competitive.
"I felt like I did the best as I could, and I'm happy that I'm coming back," Tomic said. "Hopefully in a little bit of time I can get back to 100 percent. It's not easy, but I'm trying, doing everything and trying my best to get there."
Tomic, an Australian, was a Wimbledon quarterfinalist in 2011. He has been ranked as high as 27th and is now 74th.
In other men's play, Lleyton Hewitt became the third active man to win 600 matches when he rallied past Robin Haase 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.
The 33-year-old Hewitt also staged a comeback. With the victory, he joined Roger Federer (942 wins) and Rafael Nadal (675) in reaching the 600 milestone.
"Not many people get the opportunity to get close to that, so it means I have been around for an awfully long time," Hewitt said. "I'm getting old. A few years ago when I had the last couple of surgeries, I probably would have doubted I'd get to this stage. I'm grateful I'm out there and able to compete with the best guys."
Hewitt is a former No. 1 and a three-time Key Biscayne semifinalist.
Americans Jack Sock, Ryan Harrison and Donald Young also won first-round matches.
Friday's stadium court schedule features the winners of 34 Grand Slam titles in five matches. The parade of champions will include Federer, Novak Djokovic, Venus Williams, Andy Murray and Li Na playing their opening matches.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
