Moodie slumps at Aussie Open

Johannesburg - After a resounding year of successes in 2010 in which he ended up ranked among the top 10 doubles tennis players in the world, Wesley Moodie changed partners - and promptly plummeted to a first-round defeat in the Australian Open.

The 6ft 5in South African Davis Cup player and Russia's Mikhail Youzhny went down 4-6 7-6 7-5 to the relatively unknown combination of Lucas Arnold Kerr (Argentina) and Horic Tecau (Rumania) in the opening round at Melbourne Park.

And ironically, Belgian Dick Norman, who had partnered Moodie to numerous successes last year - including earning a place in the French Open final and the Wimbledon semi-finals - was also beaten in the first round at Melbourne Park with his new partner.

South African Tennis Associaition officials were mystified as to the reason for Moodie's partner switch - although he had won an ATP event with Youzhny last year - but one source suggested it was "because he though he could be more successful playing with the Russian."

To complete the tale of doubles woe, Jeff Coetzee, whom Moodie dumped as a partner a year ago, also ended up a loser in the opening round of the Australian Open - going down 6-4 6-1 to Sam Querrey and John Isner of the United States.

And the only South African to make the second round of the doubles was the consistent Rik De Voest, who partnered American Scott Lipsky to a 4-6 6-1 7-6 victory over Rohan Bopanna of India and Pakistan's Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi.

The De Voest-Lipsky tandem, however, now face top-seeded Mike and Bob Bryan in the second round.

Meanwhile Moodie, with another partner in two-times grand slam winner Kevin Ullyett, heads the doubles entries for the South African Open at Montecasino next Month.

Zimbabwean Ullyett, who has announced his retiredment from international tennis, will be making his swansong appearance.