Seeds scattered in Hamburg

 

Originally published on: 26/02/10 11:38

The International German Open lost three of its top five seeds in second round action on the clay courts of the Rothenbaum Club in Hamburg on Tuesday.

The biggest shock was the defeat of top-seeded Frenchman Gilles Simon, who went down 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 to young German Daniel Brands at the ATP World Tour 500 event.

The 6ft 5 22-year-old from Deggendorf, ranked 120 in the world, thrilled local fans by seeing off the tournament favourite to set up a third round clash with Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu.

Earlier in the day fourth-seeded Spaniard Tommy Robredo crashed out, the clay-court specialist losing two close sets against fellow countryman Ivan Navarro.

World No.103 Navarro took the first 7-5 and held his nerve to win a second set tie-break 7-2.

Swiss Stan Wawrinka was the third big casualty on day two when he lost timidly to Guillermo Garcia-Lopez.

The Spanish world No.56 came away with a 6-2, 6-4 victory against the man who pushed Andy Murray to five sets at Wimbledon in their memorable fourth round clash under the new Centre Court roof.

Elsewhere, German eighth seed Philipp Kohlschreiber enjoyed a 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 success over Italys Potito Starace and 10th seeded-Croat Viktor Troicki beat Georgias Teimuraz Gabashvili 3-6, 6-2, 6-4.

There were also second round victories for Julian Benneteau, Juan Monaco and Fabio Fognini, who will next take on third seed Robin Soderling.

In the doubles, Simon Aspelin and Paul Hanley spoiled tournament director Michael Stichs brief comeback to tournament tennis.

Stich and Mischa Zverev lost 6-4, 6-2 to the Swedish-Aussie team in the first round of the doubles. Forty-year-old Stich hadnt played a tour match since 1997.

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