Early exit for Ward

 

Originally published on: 26/02/10 12:58

The 22-year-old had looked fluent in the first set but ran out of steam thereafter.

He was playing his first competition after being diagnosed with glandular fever in September last year.

Ward, who was taking part in only his second ATP tournament, went 4-2 up in the first set, but was broken back in the seventh game when he returned a backhand into the net.

However, Ward, who spent much of the off-season working with Greg Rusedski and training with Rafael Nadal, was gifted the set in the 12th game when Granollers double-faulted on set point.

The duo were level 2-2 in the second set, but Granollers then upped his play and Ward won only two of the last 12 games to crash out.

Granollers closed out victory in an hour and 52 minutes.

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