No hard feelings for tennis player Gremelmayr in German Games conflict

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2008

LOS ANGELES (AFP) — Olympic left-over Denis Gremelmayr shoved disappointment aside on Monday to begin his summer hardcourt campaign with a victory after being replaced on Germany's Beijing squad by Rainer Schuettler.

Gremelmayr, ranked 86th and winner of a set over Roger Federer at Estoril last spring, began his week at the Los Angeles Classic 6-4, 6-2 over Italian Fabio Fognini, Italy, 6-4, 6-2.

Despite the German tennis federation backing his cause, Gremelmayr was denied a place on the squad after the country's Olympic Committee nominated the Schuettler following a surprise Wimbledon semi-final.

The 32-year-old's name was then rejected by the International Tennis Federation as not eligible for the 56-strong field which was based on world rankings on a June...