Thu Sep 25 11:12:23 2008

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Roddick, Gonzalez advance; Ferrer falls in Beijing

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Beijing, China (Sports Network) - Second-seeded American Andy Roddick and reigning champion Fernando Gonzalez posted second-round wins, while top-seeded Spaniard David Ferrer came up a loser Thursday at the $524,000 China Open.

Dangerous Israeli Dudi Sela knocked out the world No. 5 Ferrer in 6-3, 6-3 fashion on the hardcourts at Beijing Tennis Center.

Meanwhile, the former world No. 1 Roddick launched 17 aces and avoided an upset by handling qualifier and fellow American Brendan Evans 6-4, 6-3, while a third-seeded Gonzalez continued his winning ways in Beijing with a 3-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-1 decision against Japan's Go Soeda on Day 4 here. The Chilean "Gonzo" defeated Spaniard Tommy Robredo in last year's finale here and captured a silver medal at the Olympic Games in Beijing just last month.

Fourth-seeded Frenchman Richard Gasquet, who enjoyed an opening-round bye this week along with Ferrer, Roddick and Gonzalez, grounded Taipei's Yen-Hsun Lu 7-5, 6-1, while a sixth-seeded Robredo routed Czech Ivo Minar 6-2, 6-3 and seventh-seeded German Rainer Schuettler shut down Swiss qualifier Jean-Claude Scherrer 6-1, 6-4.

Additional upsets came when former top-ranked star Juan Carlos Ferrero drove out fifth-seeded fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco 7-5, 6-4 and speedy German Bjorn Phau toppled eighth-seeded American Sam Querrey 5-7, 6-3, 6-4. A struggling Querrey has now dropped four of his last five matches, including a pair of setbacks in last week's Davis Cup semifinal between the United States and Spain in Madrid.

Friday's quarterfinals will pit Roddick against his fellow former No. 1 Ferrero, Gonzalez versus Phau, Gasquet against the Wimbledon semifinalist Schuettler and Robredo versus Sela.

The 2008 Beijing titlist will earn $85,000.