Tennis: Top seed Kei Nishikori suffers shock first-round loss in Rio

Japan's Kei Nishikori returns the ball to Brazil's Thomaz Bellucci during their ATP World Tour 500 Rio Open at Jockey Club, on Feb 21, 2017. PHOTO: AFP

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Top seed Kei Nishikori crashed out of the Rio de Janeiro Open on Tuesday after suffering a 6-4, 6-3 first-round loss to Brazil's Thomaz Bellucci.

The Japanese world No. 5, who was stunned by unseeded Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov in the Argentina Open final two days ago, was broken in the first game en route to losing the match in 79 minutes.

Bellucci meets compatriot Thiago Monteiro, who beat Portugal's Gastao Eliasa 2-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4, in the next round.

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