Ferrer shocked in Barcelona

Reuters: Top seed David Ferrer summed up his error-strewn defeat by qualifier Dmitry Tursunov as “one of the worst I have played” after falling at the first hurdle at the Barcelona Open on Wednesday.

The Spaniard lost 7-5 3-6 6-1 to the Russian. Four-time finalist Ferrer had pulled out of the Monte Carlo Masters event last week with a thigh muscle injury picked up when losing in the Miami final to Andy Murray last month.

“It was a game to forget, one of the worst I have played,” a downcast Ferrer told reporters after his defeat in blustery conditions.

“I wasn’t good in tennis terms, mentally, or with my attitude. It affects me personally because my opportunities to win here are getting fewer as I get older,” said the 31-year-old. “Tursunov’s been very good, better than me, and in the end that’s why he won.”