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Your support makes all the difference.Second-seeded Todd Martin of the United States crashed out in the second round of the Lyon Grand Prix in France on Wednesday, losing 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 to Sweden's Magnus Gustafsson. The defeat extended the American's losing streak, Martin having failed to win a match since reaching the final of the US Open where he lost to Andre Agassi.
Second-seeded Todd Martin of the United States crashed out in the second round of the Lyon Grand Prix in France on Wednesday, losing 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 to Sweden's Magnus Gustafsson. The defeat extended the American's losing streak, Martin having failed to win a match since reaching the final of the US Open where he lost to Andre Agassi.
Ranked 74th in the world, Gustafsson was Martin's first opponent of the tournament, the American having received a bye into the second round. Looking rusty, the American put up little resistance in the opening set.
But with the crowd turning against Gustafsson - who alienated them when he plopped down on the court waiting for spectators to sit before serving and on another occasion smacking the net with his racket in frustration - Martin seemed to refocus. Lifted by the crowd, the American rallied back to level the match at a set each.
In the third set, with a freshly bound ankle, Martin, a career high number four in the rankings, seemed poised for victory, storming to a 4-1 lead. Martin's game began to unravel when a determined Gustafsson dug deep to take the next five consecutive games, jumping into the air in jubilation as Martin hit the matchball into the net.
Currently sixth on the Road to Hannover, Martin will need healthy performances in his upcoming tournaments if he hopes to retain his current position at the World Championships.
The American was the sixth seed eliminated at the tournament, with fifth-seeded Tommy Haas losing 6-2, 7-6 (7-3) to Mikael Tillstrom, the losing finalist to Marcelo Rios in Singapore on Sunday. Haas, who had made the final the last two years, had been out of action for the past three weeks due to a toe injury.
Swedish players continued to wreak havoc in the second round, with Magnus Larsson toppling 16th-seeded Marc Rosset 6-2, 6-2.
Andrei Medvedev, seeded 14th, bowed to 1995 champion Wayne Ferreira.
Gustavo Kuerten was one of the few seeds who successfully advanced into the quarterfinals Wednesday, the third-seeded Brazilian defeating Spain's Fernando Vicente 6-3, 7-6 (7-4).
Frenchman Sebastien Grosjean delighted home fans, defeating American Jan-Michael Gambill 1-6, 6-3, 6-3, and will face sixth-seeded Nicolas Lapentti in the quarterfinals. Lapentti survived a tough 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) match against Jan Siemerink of the Netherlands.
Defeating Dutchman Sjeng Schalken in three sets, Vincent Spadea set up an all-American showdown against Jim Courier in the quarterfinals.
Second Round Results
Magnus Gustafsson, Sweden, def. Todd Martin, United States (2), 6-1, 4-6, 6-4.Gustavo Kuerten, Brazil (3), def. Fernando Vicente, Spain, 6-3, 7-6 (7-4).Mikael Tillstrom, Sweden, def. Tommy Haas, Germany (5), 6-2, 7-6 (7-3).Nicolas Lapentti, Ecuador (6), def. Jan Siemerink, Netherlands, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-4).Vincent Spadea, United States (8), def. Sjeng Schalken, Netherlands, 2-6, 6-1, 6-4.Sebastien Grosjean, France (12), def. Jan-Michael Gambill, United States, 1-6, 6-3, 6-3.Lleyton Hewitt, Australia (13), def. Roger Federer, Switzerland, 7-6 (7-4), 2-6, 6-4.Wayne Ferreira, South Africa, def. Andrei Medvedev (14), Ukraine, 6-3, 7-5.Magnus Larsson, Sweden, def. Marc Rosset (16), Switzerland, 6-2, 6-2.
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