Stricken Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero joined fellow defending champion Justine Henin-Hardenne on the French Open scrapheap on Thursday as the second Grand Slam event of the season was hit by another shockwave.
Ferrero, whose participation in the tournament had been in doubt because of wrist and rib injuries, lost his second round match 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 to tournament debutant Igor Andreev of Russia.
But there were no such problems for top seed and world number one Roger Federer who moved into the third round with victory over Germany's Nicolas Kiefer to set up a mouthwatering clash against triple Roland Garros champion Gustavo Kuerten of Brazil.
PHOTO: REUTERS
In the women's event, American title favorites Serena and Venus Williams and Jennifer Capriati all won through to the third round.
"I couldn't play my best tennis. I wasn't good physically and wasn't arriving at the ball at the right time," said 24-year-old Ferrero.
"I was hitting the ball too late and I couldn't push hard enough. My ribs felt alright, but then I started having cramps in my left leg which made it so difficult to stay in the match.
"When you are defending a title, you have to be 100 percent. But I don't regret my decision to play."
Ferrero's defeat, in 2hr 2min, follows those of sixth seed Andre Agassi and second seed Andy Roddick and gave 20-year-old Andreev a third round clash against France's Julien Benneteau.
Ferrero becomes only the fourth defending men's champion to exit the tournament as early as the second round following 1999 winner Agassi who lost to Karol Kucera at the same stage in 2000, Kuerten whose defense of his 1997 crown was ended the following year by Marat Safin and the 1972 winner Andres Gimeno who was beaten by Guillermo Vilas in 1973.
World number one Federer, the Wimbledon and Australian Open winner, reached the last 32 with a 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (8/6) triumph over Kiefer to record his first ever win on the main Philippe Chatrier court while 28th seeded Kuerten, champion in 1997, 2000 and 2001, disposed of Belgium's Gilles Elseneer 6-2, 6-0, 6-3.
"It should be a great match against Kuerten for both of us and for the tournament," said Federer who has a 1-1 career record against the Brazilian, winning on clay in Hamburg in 2002 before losing on hard courts at Indian Wells in 2003.
"We haven't played each other very often but if I can get past him, it will be a huge step. But I am not looking beyond that match because that would be disrespectful to Guga."
Kuerten, who underwent hip surgery two years ago and was just two points away from defeat in his first round match against Nicolas Almagro, said he will need to be at the peak of his powers to beat Federer.
"It will be a great challenge for me. I will try to be inspired. I will need to face him with all my power."
Also reaching the third round were former world number one Lleyton Hewitt of Australia, 2002 champion Albert Costa of Spain and last year's runner-up, Martin Verkerk of the Netherlands.
But home hope Sebastien Grosjean, the 10th seed, crashed out losing 7-6 (8/6), 6-3, 6-4 to Italian qualifier Potito Starace, ranked 202 in the world, who will face either Russian 20th seed Safin or Spain's Felix Mantilla.
Their gruelling match was suspended in failing light with the score at 7-7 in the final set after 4hr 14min on court.
Hewitt, the 12th seed, reached the last 32 with a battling defeat of Jurgen Melzer of Austria 6-4, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 to set up a third round clash against Verkerk who went through when Victor Hanescu of Romania was forced out in the final set of their clash with an injury.
Costa, seeded 26, had a comfortable victory over Belgium's Christophe Rochus 6-1, 6-2, 7-5 and he will face another Belgian, Xavier Malisse.
In the women's draw, 2001 champion Capriati made it through as did 2000 winner Mary Pierce of France and fourth seed Venus Williams, who will face each other in the third round.
Serena Williams, the 2002 champion, had to come back from a set down to beat 17-year-old Russian Maria Kirilenko winning 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 and she next faces Croatia's Silvija Talaja.
Capriati survived an early wobble to defeat qualifier Kveta Peschke of the Czech Republic 7-5, 6-3 and now faces Russian 25th seed Elena Bovina.
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