Federer knocked out in Cincinnati

Cincinnati:

Wimbledon champion Roger Federer followed Juan Carlos Ferrero, the French Open champion, out of the Tennis Masters Series event in Cincinnati, Ohio on Wednesday. Federer, the tournament number three seed, was beaten by David Nalbandian of Argentina 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-5), who has now beaten the Swiss star four times out of four career meetings. Earlier, Ferrero, the number two seed, fell to another Argentinian, Gaston Gaudio - 6-7 (3), 7-6 (5), 6-4. Todd Martin flew the flag for the veterans on the men's tour and booked a place in the last sixteen with a straight sets win over Feliciano Lopez of Spain, conqueror of ninth seed Paradorn Srichaphan in round one. Martin's compatriot James Blake followed his example in putting out the number eleven seed Sjeng Schalken of the Netherlands with a 6-1, 6-4 victory. Andy Roddick, fresh off his Canada Masters victory on Sunday, advanced to the round of 16 by defeating Ivan Ljubicic 6-1, 6-4. Roddick had 10 aces to the Croatian's three to breeze to a second-round victory on Wednesday. The 20-year-old Roddick will meet James Blake in the next round in what promises to be an enticing all-American clash. In other matches, Mariano Zabaleta of Argentina defeated Younes El Aynaoui 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-5. El Aynaoui, a quarter finalist at this year's Australian Open, lost his composure in the third set, breaking his racquet and incurring a point from the umpire for racquet abuse. Belgium's Xavier Malisse, who upset Lleyton Hewitt, the tournament's top seed on Tuesday, was unable to replicate his sterling performance against Mardy Fish of the United States. Fish won the contest 7-5, 6-7 (5-7), 6-1 to progress to the round of 16. Fish will next play Arnaud Clement of France, who defeated Briton's Greg Rusedski - 7-6 (7-2) 5-7 6-2. (AP)