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April 24, 2014

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Gabashvili packs off Ferrer in Barcelona

FOUR-TIME finalist David Ferrer crashed out in the second round of the Barcelona Open yesterday, producing a rusty performance to lose 4-6, 2-6 to Teymuraz Gabashvili.

The world No. 5, who beat fellow Spaniard Rafael Nadal en route to the semifinals of the Monte Carlo Masters last week, was a long way from his best against a player 50 spots below him on the ATP rankings.

Last season Ferrer lost at the same stage at the Club de Tenis, going out to another Russian Dmitry Tursunov after losing a quartet of finals to Nadal over the years.

Gabashvili broke the second seed four times on his way to victory. “This was one of my best victories, no in fact it is my best ever, beating David Ferrer,” the Russian said.

Gabashvili raced into a 3-0 lead in the first set but it appeared as though Ferrer was back on track when he levelled at 3-3. Ferrer, continued to make unforced errors though, and once he went a set behind he looked dispirited.

Waiting for the winner in the third round is Croatian Ivan Dodig, who hammered Spanish 13th seed Feliciano Lopez 6-1, 6-4.

Third seed Fabio Fognini from Italy also bowed out with a whimper, trailing 0-6, 0-4 to Colombian Santiago Giraldo when he retired from the second-round match.

Two Spaniards advanced, with sixth seed Nicolas Almagro beating Slovak Martin Klizan 7-5, 7-6 (4) and Albert Montanes defeating eighth seed Alexandr Dolgopolov of the Ukraine 7-6 (5), 6-3.

Nadal was playing compatriot Albert Ramos later.


 

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