PARIS — James Blake’s frustration rose to a crescendo Thursday.
The top U.S. man in the French Open was talking to himself, and the words were growing louder. He was bothered by the clay underfoot. By the chair umpire. By his own play. And, most of all, by the drop shots and assorted other winners his up-and-coming foe produced.
For the fifth time in six career trips to Roland Garros, Blake departed before the third round, losing this time to 80th-ranked Ernests Gulbis of Latvia 7-6 (2), 3-6, 7-5, 6-3. It was part of a 1-3 showing by American men Thursday, when Mardy Fish and Bobby Reynolds also lost.
The 88th-ranked Robby Ginepri ousted No. 27 Igor Andreev 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (5), 6-2 to join Wayne Odesnik as the only players from the United States in the third round.
“Americans a lot of times don’t have the highest expectations on clay,” the No. 7-seeded Blake said. “But I really felt like this match today was a match I could have won.”
There were moments, if ever so brief, that similar thoughts ran through the minds of the men facing No. 1 Roger Federer and No. 2 Rafael Nadal.
Federer’s opponent, 60th-ranked Albert Montanes of Spain, staked himself to a one-set lead — and then was overwhelmed the rest of the way in a 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-0, 6-4 victory for the owner of 12 Grand Slam titles.
Nadal’s opponent, 148th-ranked Nicolas Devilder of France, was one point from serving for the first set, holding a break point at 4-all — and then was completely overwhelmed the rest of the way in a 6-4, 6-0, 6-1 victory for the owner of the past three French Open titles.
Blake’s exit was followed shortly by that of No. 6 David Nalbandian. The Argentine wasted a two-set lead — and four break points in the opening game of the third set — and was eliminated 3-6, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1, 6-2 by Jeremy Chardy of France.
On the women’s side, No. 6 Anna Chakvetadze and two-time major champion Amelie Mauresmo were eliminated.
French Open/At a glance
Men’s top-seeded losers: No. 6
David Nalbandian, No. 7 James
Blake
Women’s top-seeded losers: No.
6 Anna Chakvetadze, No. 21 Maria
Kirilenko, No. 22 Amelie Mauresmo
Stat of the day: 0- games lost
by No. 16 Victoria Azarenka in
her victory over Sorana-Mihaela
Cirstea, the first 6-0, 6-0 result at
the Open since Serena Williams
beat Barbara Schett in 2003.
Quote of the day: “I was surprised
how he was moving. (Americans)
usually don’t slide well. After
three or four strokes, they go
for the winner. They lack patience.
But he proved different.”
-Nicolas Lapentti of Ecuador, after
beating Bobby Reynolds
On court today: No. 2 Rafael
Nadal vs. No. 26 Jarkko Nieminen,
No. 3 Novak Djokovic vs.
Wayne Odesnik; No. 5 Serena
Williams vs. No. 27 Katarina Srebotnik,
Venus Williams vs. No. 26
Flavia Pennetta.
Today’s TV: Tennis Channel, 3 a.m.-1 p.m.; ESPN2, 1-4:30 p.m.
