Reuters

Seeds fall in Melbourne

Updated 18.11 Sun Jan 20 2008

Keywords: Nikolay Davydenko, richard gasquet, jo-wilfried tsonga, Rafael Nadal, australian open, tennis, sport

Three top-ten men's seeds have crashed out of the Australian Open in Melbourne on the eve of the second week.

But world number two Rafael Nadal had no such problems, advancing to the quarter-finals after his opponent, Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu, retired hurt during the second set of their match on Rod Laver Arena.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga's astonishing campaign continued as the unseeded Frenchman dumped compatriot Richard Gasquet in the fourth round

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga's astonishing campaign continued as the unseeded Frenchman dumped compatriot Richard Gasquet in the fourth round.

Tsonga, who disposed of British number one Andy Murray on Monday, moved into the quarter-finals with a 6-2 6-7 (5/7) 7-6 (8/6) 6-3 over his close friend in three hours and 19 minutes.

Nikolay Davydenko had no answers to fellow Russian Mikhail Youzhny as the 13th-ranked man eliminated the world number three 7-6 (7/2) 6-3 6-1.

And David Nalbandian was the third big name to fall at Melbourne Park. The number ten seed handed a straight-sets thumping by former world number one Juan Carlos Ferrero.

There was no great escape for the Argentinian comeback specialist in this match as Ferrero found his best form to win 6-1 6-2 6-3.