Del Potro's return ends in Thai defeat

(EPA)

Juan Martin Del Potro's first competitive action since January ended in defeat to Olivier Rochus in the first round of the PTT Thailand Open yesterday.

The Argentine, who had not played since the Australian Open due to a wrist injury, has fallen to 36th in the world rankings but was seeded fifth for the tournament in Bangkok. But he ran into the Belgian in top form, Rochus finding the mark with 82 per cent of first serves in an opening set which he took on a tie-break.

Del Potro, the 2009 US Open winner, managed a break in the second but he also dropped serve twice as Rochus completed a 7-6, 6-4 win in an hour and 44 minutes.