Stan Wawrinka lost his chance for a long-shot bid for the Masters Cup as the fifth seed became the second local victim on a grim opening day Monday at the Swiss Indoors.
The Lausanne native removed himself from possible contention for one of four remaining places in next month's season finale in Shanghai when he went down to German qualifier Benjamin Becker 3-6, 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-5) in the first round.
Wawrinka stood provisional 12th for China's eight-man elite event but was unable to keep his campaign alive.
He was broken while serving for victory in the 10th game of the second set, then twice lost leads in the third set before Becker came through to lift victory after two and a half hours and two tiebreakers.
Wawrinka joined the scrap heap at the St Jakobshalle beside compatriot Marco Chiudinelli, who lost in the face of a 15-ace performance by Spain's Feliciano Lopez 7-6
(7-5), 7-6 (9-7).
Swiss superstar Roger Federer, bidding for his third hometown title in a row, and wild card Stephane Bohli were the last local players remaining.
Chiudinelli has played Davis Cup for Switzerland but currently does not have an ATP singles ranking as his last event at the top level was the Basel tournament a year ago.
Federer opens his title defence on Tuesday against US player Bobby Reynolds.
American Mardy Fish earned a win against Argentine Agustin Calleri 7-6 (7-5), 6-2.
German exports plunged in November to record the biggest fall in nearly two decades, data released Thursday showed, as the deepening world economic downturn hits Europe's biggest economy.
When the Spirit rover landed on Mars five years ago, no one expected it or its sister rover Opportunity to make it to their first birthdays, let alone their fifth.
The San Antonio Spurs turned up their trademark defense down the stretch to turn back another opponent. 
US singer and Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson, 27, dominated the nominations for the 40th NAACP Image Awards.
After the Taipei Zoo received two giant pandas from China, another Taiwan zoo said Friday it is seeking to receive a pair of pandas from China.