Thaindian News

London, June 29 (IANS) Frenchman Gilles Simon’s Wimbledon campaign ended in the second round of the men’s singles, losing to Xavier Malisse 6-4, 6-4, 7-6 (5).

Simon, seeded 13th, was no match Thursday for the Belgian, a semi-finalist here 10 years ago.

Malisse will now face Spaniard Fernando Verdasco, seeded 17th.

The Spaniard needed four sets to quell the challenge of Slovenian opponent Grega Zemlija 7-6 (4), 7-6 (4), 3-6, 6-3.

Fifth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France overcame a first-set tie-break loss to beat Spain’s Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-7, 6-4, 6-1, 6-3.

The popular Frenchman, who beat Roger Federer last year, faces Lukas Lacko next.

Seventh seed David Ferrer easily overcame young Frenchman Kenny De Schepper 7-6, 6-2, 6-4, to set up a third-round clash with Andy Roddick.

Roddick, seeded 30th but with a fine grass-court record, ousted Germany’s Bjorn Phau 6-3, 7-6, 6-3.

Kei Nishikori, the 19th seed, beat France’s Florent Serra 6-3, 7-5, 6-2, to become the first Japanese male player to reach the third round of the Wimbledon singles since Shuzo Matsuoka 17 years ago.

He will face Argentina’s Juan Martin Del Potro after the ninth seed beat another Japanese, Go Soeda, 6-2, 6-3, 1-6, 6-4.

Belgian David Goffin, who gave Roger Federer a big scare at the French Open earlier this month, backed up his impressive first round win over Australian 20th seed Bernard Tomic with a four sets victory over American Jesse Levine.

The youngster now plays Mardy Fish who beat British outsider James Wardin in five sets.

Results:

Men’s Singles (3rd round):

Xavier Malisse (Bel) b Gilles Simon (Fra)[13] 6-4, 6-4, 7-6(5);
Marin Cilic (Cro)[16] b Lukasz Kubot (Pol 7-6(4), 6-2, 6-1;
Lukas Lacko (Svk) b Jurgen Melzer (Aut) 6-4, 6-7(4), 3-6, 6-3, 6-4;
Radek Stepanek (Cze)[28] b Benjamin Becker (Ger) 6-2, 7-6(4), 6-3;
Brian Baker (US) b Jarkko Nieminen (Fin) 6-0, 6-2, 6-4;
Fernando Verdasco (Esp)[17] b Grega Zemlja (Slo) 7-6(4), 7-6(4), 3-6, 6-3;
David Goffin (Bel) b Jesse Levine (US) 4-6, 6-4,6-1, 6-3;
Alejandro Falla (Col) b NicolasMahut (Fra) 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 4-6, 7-5
Benoit Paire (Fra) b Alexandr Dolgopolov (Ukr)[22] 7-6(2), 6-4, 6-4;
Kei Nishikori (Jpn)[19] b Florent Serra (Fra) 6-3, 7-5, 6-2.

Women’s Singles (3rd round):

Serena Williams (USA)[6] b Melinda Czink (Hun) 6-1, 6-4;
Maria Sharapova (Rus)[1] b Tsvetana Pironkova (Bul) 7-6(3), 6-7(3), 6-0;
Sara Errani (Ita)[10] b Anne Keothavong (Br) 6-1, 6-1;
Ana Ivanovic (Srb)[14] bKateryna Bondarenko (Ukr) 6-3, 7-6(3);
Roberta Vinci (Ita)[21] b Marina Erakovic (Nzl) 6-4, 6-3;
Nadia Petrova (Rus)[20] b Timea Babos (Hun) 6-4, 6-7(3), 9-7;
Mirjana Lucic (Cro) b Marion Bartoli (Fra)[9] 6-4, 6-3;
Tamira Paszek (Aut) b Alize Cornet (Fra) 6-2, 6-1;
Christina McHale (US)[28] b Mathilde Johansson (Fra) 7-5, 7-5;
Yaroslava Shvedova (Kaz) b Kiki Bertens (Ned)6-4, 6-4;
Francesca Schiavone (Ita)[24] b Kristyna Pliskova (Cze) 6-4, 6-4;
Angelique Kerber (Ger)[8] b Ekaterina Makarova (Rus) 4-6, 6-3, 8-6;
Jie Zheng (Chn)[25] b Aleksandra Wozniak (Can) 6-4, 6-2;
Klara Zakopalova (Cze) b Olga Govortsova (Blr) 2-6, 6-1, 6-2.