Andreev advances as Ferrero tamely relinquishes title

DEFENDING champion Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain was knocked out of the French Open in the second round yesterday, losing 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 to tournament debutant Igor Andreev of Russia.

Fourth seed Ferrero had come into Roland Garros a long way from match fitness, having not played for a month because of wrist and rib injuries and had been a doubtful starter for the tournament right up until his first round match against Tommy Haas on Tuesday.

Andreev, 20, and ranked 77 in the world, is making his Roland Garros debut but had won just one match on clay in five tournaments this season.

But he knew Ferrero was only half-fit and cleverly had the Spaniard scrambling over the court.

After taking the first set in 51 minutes, the young Russian grabbed a crucial break in the second set in the sixth game to lead 4-2 as Ferrero began to tire.

In the next four games, Ferrero failed to win a single point as Andreev went 2-0 ahead in the third.

Ferrero broke back but it was brief respite with Andreev regaining the initiative immediately to restore his advantage at 3-1.

Bravely the Spaniard clung on and broke back, lost serve again to hand Andreev a 4-2 lead before, incredibly, the Spaniard came back again.

The Russian then broke again to lead 5-3, the sixth game in-a-row where neither player had held serve.

In the ninth game, Ferrero saved one match point when a forehand clipped the top of the net and landed on the Russian's side but Andreev made sure of his moment in the headlines by taking the match with a service ace.

Elsewhere, world number one Roger Federer admits that beating three-time winner Gustavo Kuerten in the third round would be a "huge step".

Top seed Federer ousted Germany's Nicolas Kiefer 6-3 6-4 7-6 (8-6) in the second round yesterday to book his ticket to the next stage and will next face 'Guga', who thrashed Belgium's Gilles Elseneer in straight sets, 6-2 6-0 6-3.

"I am really looking forward to it, this is going to be a great match for the tournament and a great match for Guga and myself," said Federer .

Elsewhere, fourth seed Venus Williams who ousted Thailand's Tamarine Tanasugarn in straight sets in round one, saw off Croatia's Jelena Kostanic 6-3 6-3 yesterday.

Seventh seed Jennifer Capriati , who won the Grand Slam in 2001, was pleased to have also booked her ticket to the third round with a 7-5 6-3 win over Kveta Peschke of the Czech Republic.