Defending champ Ferrero upset in Open - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Defending champ Ferrero upset in Open

By Jerome Pugmire 28/05/2004 05:52:56 AM Comments (0)

Defending champion Juan Carlos Ferrero has lost in the second round of the French Open, leaving the tournament without its two title holders.

The Spaniard, seeded No.4, lost to Igor Andreev 6-4 6-2 6-3. Ferrero nearly withdrew because of bruised ribs before the tournament and played on only after receiving painkiller injections.He saved two match points, before Andreev served out the match with an ace.

On Wednesday, defending women's champion Justine Henin-Hardenne, also weakened by illness, lost her second-round match. She was recovering from a viral ailment and had just come back after a six-week layoff.

Elsewhere on Thursday, second-round winners on the men's side included top-ranked Roger Federer and three-time champion Gustavo Kuerten. They'll meet in the third round.

"I'll have to prepare really well," Federer said. "I'll have to try to be more aggressive than he is without overdoing things."

Federer, 34-3 this year, is seeking his first French Open title.

Kuerten, seeded 28th, advanced by sweeping Gilles Elseneer 6-2 6-0 6-3. Federer was unhappy with his serve but still beat Nicolas Kiefer 6-3 6-4 7-6 (8-6).

In other matches, Venus Williams and Jennifer Capriati advanced to the third round, which is better than any American man did.

The No. 4-seeded Williams survived a sluggish start to beat Jelena Kostanic 6-3 6-3. No.7 Capriati, who won the tournament in 2001, defeated Kveta Peschke 7-5 6-3.

With Andy Roddick's loss Wednesday, no US men reached the third round, the first time that's happened at a Grand Slam event in 31 years. Williams and Capriati were two of four top-10 American women still in the tournament.

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