Sorry Ferrero loses French crown
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| | MEN'S RESULTS | 8-David Nalbandian (Argentina) beat Alejandro Falla (Colombia) 5-7 6-0 6-2 6-0; Gaston Gaudio (Argentina) beat 14-Jiri Novak (Czech Republic) 2-6 6-4 6-4 5-7 6-3; Igor Andreev (Russia) beat 4-Juan Carlos Ferrero (Spain) 6-4 6-2 6-3; Potito Starace (Italy) beat 10-Sebastien Grosjean (France) 7-6 (8-6) 6-3 6-4; Stefan Koubek(Austria) beat 25-Ivan Ljubicic(Croatia) 6-0 1-6 6-4 6-2; 19-Martin Verkerk (Netherlands) beat Victor Hanescu (Romania) 4-6 6-3 3-6 6-0 3-0, Hanescu retired injured; 28-Gustavo Kuerten (Brazil) beat Gilles Elseneer (Belgium) 6-2 6-0 6-3; Julien Benneteau (France) beat David Ferrer (Spain) 6-3 1-6 6-2 7-5; 1-Roger Federer (Switzerland) beat Nicolas Kiefer (Germany) 6-3 6-4 7-6 (8-6); 23-Feliciano Lopez (Spain) beat Karol Kucera (Slovakia) 6-7 (3-7) 6-3 6-4 6-4; 12-Lleyton Hewitt (Australia) beat Jurgen Melzer (Austria) 6-4 6-4 4-6 6-2; Xavier Malisse (Belgium) beat Daniel Elsner (Germany) 6-3 4-0 retired; 26-Albert Costa (Spain) beat Christophe Rochus (Belgium) 6-1 6-2 7-5; Lee Hyung-taik (South Korea) beat Olivier Patience (France) 6-4 6-4 6-3
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PARIS, France -- Defending champion Juan Carlos Ferrero crashed out of the second round of the French Open in miserable style against Russian Igor Andreev.
The fourth-seeded Spaniard, who has been struggling with bruised ribs and a wrist injury, was clearly well short of fitness as he slumped to a 6-4 6-2 6-3 defeat.
Andreev, 20, had never previously won a grand slam match, but he took advantage of his opponent's discomfort in an attacking display.
Ferrero had previously reached at least the semifinals of every French Open he had played.
"People keep saying cheer up, you'll get over it...but it's difficult," said Ferrero.
"Everyone has a bad year and it looks like this is a bad year. The ribs were okay but in the first set I felt some stomach cramps and I couldn't move so well. It's one thing after another.
"It was difficult to stay in the match with two injuries. It's very difficult to defend your title when you are not 100 percent fit.
"He played a very good match, he's got a lot of talent... but I couldn't play my best tennis today. Maybe because I didn't feel so good physically. I couldn't get to the balls quickly enough."
Ferrero's early departure leaves the event without either of its champions, following women's champion Justine Henin-Hardenne's defeat on Wednesday.
Top seed Roger Federer and three-times French Open champion Gustavo Kuerten both won to set up an intriguing third round clash.
Swiss world number one Federer was well short of his best, serving 12 double faults, against Germany's Nicolas Kiefer.
But he still emerged a comfortable 6-3 6-4 7-6 victor, claiming his first ever win on the center court in front of an appreciative Roland Garros crowd.
"It was important to get used to the center court," said Federer, the reigning Wimbledon and Australian Open champion.
"I am happy I got through. You know, it was okay, but I think I will have to play a little bit better in the next match."
Despite dropping to 28th in the seedings, Kuerten looked as comfortable as ever on the Parisian clay, racing to a 6-2 6-0 6-3 win over Gilles Elseneer of Belgium.
"I'm seeing probably the toughest guy I could play in the third round," said the Brazilian. "It's going to be a great, great challenge."
Great, great match
Federer added: "It's going to be a great, great match for the tournament. If I can get through him that is for me a huge step."
Another former Grand Slam winner, Lleyton Hewitt of Australia, also advanced with a 6-4 6-4 4-6 6-2 win over Austrian Juergen Melzer.
"I feel pretty confident where my game's at at the moment," said the 12th seed, usually uncomfortable on clay.
"I feel confident, maybe moving a little bit better on clay this year purely because I've spent a little bit more time on it."
Hewitt, who has never gone past the quarterfinals in Paris, next faces last year's surprise finalist Martin Verkerk.
The Dutch 19th seed hit 17 aces on his way to a 4-6 6-3 3-6 6-0 3-0 win over Romanian Victor Hanescu, who was forced to quit in the final set because of cramp.
But 10th-ranked home player Sebastien Grosjean joined the list of seeded casualties, losing 7-6 6-3 6-4 to Italian qualifier Potito Starace, and Czech 14th seed Jiri Novak was beaten 2-6 6-4 6-4 5-7 6-3 by Argentine Gaston Gaudio.
