Third seed Berdych ousted by Almagro in Swedish Open

BASTAD, Sweden, July 11 (Reuters) Czech third seed Tomas Berdych was ousted 6-2 7-6 by Spanish claycourt hope Nicolas Almagro in the first round of the Swedish Open today.

The windy conditions were clearly better suited for Almagro, who served for the match at 5-4 and again at 6-5 in the second set, but Berdych broke back both times, saving a match point in each game.

Berdych, last year's finalist, had a set point leading 7-6 in the tie-break but Almagro grabbed three consecutive points, sealing the match on a double-fault by the Czech.

Swedish eighth seed Thomas Johansson, the 2002 Australian Open winner, was outclassed by Peru's Luis Horna 6-4 6-2.

It was Johansson's sixth first-round exit in a row since his comeback in May from an eye injury.

REUTERS SY BD2352