Ferrero outslugs Martin to reach last 16 in Barcelona

BARCELONA, Apr 26 (Reuters) Former French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero outslugged fellow Spaniard Alberto Martin 6-4 7-6 to reach the Barcelona Open third round today.

The 10th seed, runner-up to Rafael Nadal last year, was a break down at 4-3 in the first set but bounced back with three games in succession to move ahead.

Ferrero, the world number 28, led 3-0 in the second but Martin hit back to force a tiebreak only for his compatriot to romp through it 7-1.

Ferrero will next meet either another former French Open champion from Spain, Albert Costa, who is due to retire after the tournament, or eighth seed Dominik Hrbaty of Slovakia.

Ninth seed Tomas Berdych was a casualty, losing 7-6 6-3 to unseeded Spaniard Albert Portas, while Finn Jarkko Nieminen and Russian Evgeny Korolev also reached the last 16.

Later today, top seed and French Open champion Nadal begins the defence of his title with a second-round match against fellow Spaniard Feliciano Lopez.

REUTERS PDS BST1935