Ferrero bows out at US Open
Ferrero's only Grand Slam title came at Roland Garros in 2003
Also In The News
|
Wales were comprehensively beaten 34-7 by France at the Millennium Stadium today. |  |
Monday, 27, Aug 2007 09:14
Juan Carlos Ferrero has become the first high-profile star to be knocked out of the US Open after his Spanish compatriot Feliciano Lopez clinched their match 6-3 6-4 6-4.
Ferrero, who finished runner-up at the tournament in 2003 and is seeded 21st this time around, looked well out-of-sorts as he crashed out in straight sets.
But the former world number one was philosophical in defeat as Lopez, ranked 60th in the world, looked forward to a second round match against Igor Andreev.
"It's just another tournament - I know it's a Grand Slam, but I lost in the second round last year and the world's still turning," said Ferrero.
"I served so badly today. The balls here don't help me because I like to hit with a lot of spin but when you hit the ball it's like they are dead."
Nikolay Davydenko, who is at the centre of an ongoing furore over irregular betting patterns surrounding his injury-affected loss to Martin Vassallo Arguello last month, ignored the controversy to advance in impressive fashion.
"It's difficult - it's like mentally you are tired, not physically. It would be good for me to take a rest and nobody hear nothing about me," he said after dispatching Jesse Levine 6-4 6-0 6-1.