Tennis at the Paralympics: Second Chilean eliminated during first round

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BEIJING.- Chilean tennis player Francisco Cayulef became the second Chilean player eliminated in the male singles tournament at the 2008 Paralypmic Games in Beijing after suffering a double 6-1 defeat against U.S. player Stephen Welch.

At the match, the number 2 Chilean player was overcome by the power and mobility of the two-time Olympic sub-champion, who closed out an undisputable win, leaving him among the 32 best players in the tournament.

During the first set, Cayulef had only begun to come into his own during the sixth game when, for the first time during the match, he was able to keep his serve following two point breaks by the U.S. player, who gained control and managed to take the first set in only 24 minutes.

It took Welch the same amount of time to close out the match after the second set, where Cayulef continued to fight, by was not able to prevail during several crucial points.

In the end, the silver-medal winner at the 1996 Atlanta and 2000 Sydney Paralympics lived up to his status, leaving Cayulef behind to join Róbinson Méndez, who also lost today during the first round against French player Michael Jeremiasz.