Federer and Kratochvil go bust in Monte Carlo
Switzerland's tennis stars, Roger Federer and Michel Kratochvil, have both been knocked out of the Masters Tournament in Monte Carlo.
In the second round of the $2.3 million tournament, Federer suffered a two-set defeat (6-2, 6-1) at the hands of Argentina’s David Nalbandian.
Nalbandian was able to despatch his Swiss opponent in just 61 minutes.
“I have no idea what happened here,” Federer said after the match.
“It’s a catastrophe,” he added.
Spaniard Carlos Moya, meanwhile, needed three sets (6-2, 4-6, 6-4) to defeat Kratochvil and book his place in the next round.
Mikaelian crashes out
There was equally bad news for Switzerland in the WTA tournament at Charleston on Wednesday, with Marie-Gaïané Mikaelian crashing out of the second round.
The teenager from canton Vaud is yet to make it into the third round of a WTA event this year and was unable to end that dismal run in South Carolina. Mikaelian (WTA 64) went down in straight sets to Croatia’s Iva Majoli (WTA 58), losing Wednesday’s match 2-6, 4-6.
Majoli, who famously upset Martina Hingis in the final of the French Open five years ago, had herself been experiencing something of a losing streak before coming up against Mikaelian.
Wednesday’s win was only the Croatian player’s fifth of the year and saw her through to the third round for the first time in 11 tournaments.
Schnyder shines
There was better news for Swiss tennis fans at the WTA tournament in Charleston, South Carolina, where Patty Schnyder continued her confident start with a second round defeat of French sixth seed Amelie Mauresmo.
Schnyder overcame her higher-ranked opponent in three sets (6-4, 3-6, 6-2) to set up a tantalising third round encounter with Mauresmo’s compatriot, and former French Open winner, Mary Pierce.
Pierce, who has since slumped to 232nd in the world after suffering with shoulder, back and ankle injuries, boasts a 3-1 head-to-head record against Schnyder. However the two women have not played each other for more than three years with their last meeting ending in victory for the Swiss.
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