AMERICAN Patrick McEnroe overcame a late bout of nerves to beat Dutchman Jan Siemerink and become the first player to eliminate a seeded opponent in this year's Hongkong Salem Open yesterday.
McEnroe, the 26-year-old younger brother of tennis legend John, was awarded a wild card into the main draw and responded by knocking out eighth-seeded Siemerink 6-4, 6-4 on Victoria Park's Centre Court.
After winning the first set 6-4, McEnroe established a 5-0 lead in the second but allowed the 23-year-old Monte Carlo-based Dutchman to close the gap to 5-4.
But McEnroe, who is ranked 118th in the world, 73 places below Siemerink, broke back to clinch victory in two sets.
Said McEnroe: ''When I led 5-3 in the second set I started to get a bit of nerves.
''He played some good points to make it 5-4 and then I just had to treat it like I was starting a new match.'' McEnroe's reward for beating Siemerink is a quarter-final tie against the top seed and defending champion Jim Courier, who beat Britain's Jeremy Bates 6-1, 6-4 in 75 minutes.
It will be their first meeting and McEnroe said: ''Obviously I am the big underdog but it's a great opportunity for me.'' McEnroe's older brother is never too far away from the spotlight, though, and his involvement in a Davis Cup dispute stirred up trouble in the States last week.