Klahn falls in Australian Open qualifying

Ex-Stanford star Bradley Klahn will not return to the main draw
of the Australian Open this year. 2014 photo by Paul Bauman

   Former Stanford star Bradley Klahn, seeded 30th, lost to Michal Przysiezny of Poland 6-4, 6-4 today in the second round of Australian Open qualifying in Melbourne.
   Klahn, a 24-year-old left-hander from the San Diego suburb of Poway, was trying to play in the main draw of the Australian Open for the second time in three appearances.
   He lost to 22nd-seeded Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria 6-7 (7), 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 in the first round last year and the second round of qualifying in 2013. Dimitrov went on to the reach the quarterfinals before losing to top seed and 2009 champion Rafael Nadal.
   Przysiezny, 30, will play seventh-seeded Aljaz Bedene of Slovenia for a berth in the main draw. Bedene, 25, topped Tomislav Brkic of Bosnia and Herzegovina 6-0, 7-6 (2).
   Bedene qualified in Chennai, India, last week and defeated three of the top five seeds en route to his first ATP World Tour final. He saved four match points against Roberto Bautista Agut, named the Most Improved Player of the Year in 2014, in the semifinals before falling to defending champion Stan Wawrinka.
   Przysiezny reached the second round of the Australian Open main draw for the first time last year in six appearances (including qualifying), beating Horacio Zeballos of Argentina before losing to Stephane Robert of France.
   Bedene is playing in the Australian Open for the fourth time. He fell in the second round of qualifying in 2012 and the first round of the main draw the past two years.