Grosjean suffers shock defeat in Sydney

Thailand's Paradorn Srichaphan pulled off the biggest upset of the new tennis year when he beat world number six Sebastien Grosjean 6-3, 6-4 at the Sydney International on Tuesday.

Paradorn, who finished last year ranked 112th in the ATP Champions Race, produced the form that helped him reach the Indian Open final last week, to knock the top seed out of the Australian Open warm-up event.

"I had nothing to lose against Grosjean," said Paradorn, who became a national hero when he helped Thailand reach the Hopman Cup final in 2000.

Paradorn, whose best ever win was beating then world number three Magnus Norman in Singapore in 1999, was given a wildcard into next week's Australian Open after winning the Asian Championship in December and only got into the field for Sydney after reaching the final in Chennai.

A superstitious player, he touches the ground before every match and celebrated his stunning victory over Grosjean by kissing the court, an idea he got from watching the Pope.

"When I play a guy that is higher ranked, I just relax and try and learn from him," he added.

Grosjean blamed his defeat on fatigue, saying he was still jaded from playing last year's end of season Masters Cup event and the Davis Cup final, both in Australia.

"It was a long year and there is a slam in the first month of this year, so it is not easy, you need a good break," the Frenchman said.

"I finished in December and I needed a break so I didn't practice at all and I arrived here without practicing."