BEIJING: Defending Champion Andy Roddick suffered a shocking first-round defeat in the ATP Event in China. Roddick won the title last year, and this result will be a massive blow to his chances of qualifying for the ATP Masters Cup in London next month.

Roddick was beaten 6-2, 6-4 by the Polish qualifier Lukasz Kubot. Kubot is Poland's No. 1 player, but he was ruled out of his nation's recent Davis Cup Victory over Britain due to injury.

Roddick stunned the tennis world earlier this year when he defeated the British No. 1 Andy Murray in the semi-finals of Wimbledon. Roddick went on to push Roger Federer all the way in the final before losing out by the narrowest of margins 16-14 in the fifth set.

However, since that tournament, the American has struggled to make the inroads that many predicted he would on the tour. Roddick will be disappointed that he was not able to upset the Betting Odds and defend his title.