A break in the fifth game gave Srinath the first set at 6-4 but then disaster struck. Kratochvil took nine games in a row which saw him pocket the second set 6-0 and with a break lead 3-0 in the decider. Then the Canadian froze and a fired up Srinath took the set at 6-4.

Another crowd favourite here, Pakistan's Aisam Qureshi failed to cross the second hurdle. In a battle of qualifiers Qureshi lost to the Scot Barron on Ireland 4-6, 4-6. The Qualifier's Club had one more representation in the last eight as Kaskak overcame Kauffmann of Germany 6-1, 6-2.

The rest of the seeds took places reserved for them. The seed sproutingmeant fall for India's Nitin Kirtane. The qualifier lost to Italian Messori Filippo in straight sets 3-6 3-6.

Indian Davis Cup star Srinath came to Ahmedabad after two weeks of rest and seemed rusty in his first outing. To add to his woes the injuries sustained after a hectic '98 were still there for company.

The Indian presence in the doubles section came to an end with Harsh Mankad and Syed Fazaluddin losing in the first round.

Results (Pre-quarterfinals)

Men singles: Prahlad Srinath (India) bt Joseph Robichaud (Canada) 6-4 0-6 6-4; Michel Kratochvil (Switzerland) bt Simon Larose (Canada) 0-6 6-4 6-2; Kaskak Filip (Slovakia) bt Cedric Kauffman (France) 6-1 6-2; Jonathan Erlich (Isreal) bt Martin Hormec (Slovakia) 6-7 (3) 6-4 6-2; Boris Borgula (Slovakia) bt Densi Udamchoke (Thailand) 6-3 6-4; Amir Hadad (Israel) bt Simon Aspelin (Sweden) 6-3 6-2; Messori Filippo (Italy) bt Nitin Kirtane (India) 6-3 6-3; Scot Barren (Ireland) bt Aisam Qureshi (Pakistan) 6-4 6-4.

Men Doubles: SimonLarose & Joseph Robichaud bt Harsh Mankad & Bates 6-3 6-3; Meringoff & Rueb bt Kauffmann & Syed Fazaluddin 6-2 6-2; Aspelin & Martin Lee bt Chvapil & Hernychg 6-4, 6-4.