VETERANS Tomas Berdych and David Ferrer have fallen foul of the tennis Gods, departing the French Open prematurely – but Juan Martin del Potro has finally caught a Roland Garros break.
The Argentine advanced 6-3 3-6 1-1 when Nicolas Almagro retired with a left knee injury in a career reversal of fortune.
The US Open champion has struggled for fitness since upstaging Roger Federer in New York in 2009 and he took no pleasure out of Almagro’s tearful exit.
Tomas Berdych was rolled by Karen Khachanov.Source:AFP
Devastated for his opponent, del Potro hugged Almagro before packing the Spaniard’s racquet bag.
Wimbledon runner-up Berdych was rolled 7-5 6-4 6-4 by lanky Russian Karen Khachanov, who now faces John Isner after the US 21st seed progressed 6-3 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (7-2) with 21 aces against Italian Paolo Lorenzi.
A finalist in 2013, 30th seed Ferrer was downed 7-5 3-6 7-5 4-6 6-4 by Spanish compatriot Feliciano Lopez in a Court 3 thriller lasting just under four hours.
Former world No.3 David Ferrer was knocked out by countryman Feliciano Lopez.Source:AFP
Lopez next plays US Open winner Marin Cilic after the Croat overwhelmed Russian Konstantin Kravchuk 6-3 6-2 6-2.
South Korea’s Hyeon Chung earned a tilt at Japanese eighth seed with a 6-1 7-5 6-1 victory over Denis Istomin.
Nishikori beat France’s Jeremy Chardy 6-3 6-0 7-6 (7-5).
Originally published as French claims more high-profile casualties
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