Lopez, Fognini latest seeds to fall at Valencia Open

October 30, 2015 | 10:27

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American Steve Johnson ousted world number 16 Feliciano Lopez 6-4, 7-6 (7/3) to reach the quarter-finals as the seeds continued to fall at the Valencia Open on Thursday.

File photo of Steve Johnson of USA during the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament in Shanghai, China, on Oct 14, 2015. (AFP PHOTO/GREG BAKER)

VALENCIA: American Steve Johnson ousted world number 16 Feliciano Lopez 6-4, 7-6 (7/3) to reach the quarter-finals as the seeds continued to fall at the Valencia Open on Thursday (Oct 29).

Indeed the top five seeds all failed to make the last eight as Germany's Mischa Zverev shocked Fabio Fognini 6-2, 7-6 (7/3) and Joao Sousa beat France's Benoit Paire 6-3, 2-6, 6-3.

Top seed and three-time champion David Ferrer withdrew from the tournament on Wednesday due to an elbow injury.

Spain's Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, at six, is the highest remaining seed in the draw and will face Johnson in Friday's quarter-finals after sweeping aside Japan's Taro Daniel 6-3, 6-4.

Seventh seed Roberto Bautisita Agut eased past Russian newcomer Andrey Rublev 6-2, 6-3 and will take on Zverev in the last eight.

Portugal's Sousa will meet third seed Bernard Tomic's conqueror, Uruguayan Pablo Cuevas.

German qualifier Daniel Brands faces Canada's Vasek Pospisil after overcoming lucky loser Albert Montanes, who had replaced Ferrer, 6-2, 6-2.

Second round:

Mischa Zverev (GER) bt Fabio Fognini (ITA) 6-2, 7-6 (7/3)

Daniel Brands (GER) bt Albert Montanes (ESP) 6-2, 6-2

Steve Johnson (USA) bt Feliciano Lopez (ESP) 6-4, 7-6 (7/3)

Joao Sousa (POR) bt Benoit Paire (FRA) 6-3, 2-6, 6-3

Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP) bt Andrey Rublev (RUS) 6-2, 6-3

Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (ESP) bt Taro Daniel (JPN) 6-3, 6-4

AFP

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