Top Seed Shocked by Michael Russell in LA

The Farmers Classic lost its top seed through the night as France’s Benoit Paire succumbed to American Michael Russell in straight sets, Detroit-born Russell defeating the world no. 47, 7-5 6-4.

Another seed awaits Russell in tonight’s quarter final, this time in the form of Australian Marinko Matosevic. Matosevic – seeded sixth – required a third set to see off the challenge of Germany’s Tobias Kamke in a curiously lopsided match-up.

The first set went Matosevic’s way, with the Australian coasting to a comfortable 6-3. However, Kamke hit the ground running in the second, conceding only a single game on his way to forcing a decider.

Apparently unruffled, a clinical and miserly Matosevic then won six games in a row to take the third set. Game, set and match at 6-3 1-6 6-0.

Fourth seed Nicolas Mahut required only two sets to eliminate Paolo Lorenzi, although the Italian pushed Mahut all the way. A hard fought 7-5 in the first set was followed up with an even harder fought tie-break in the second, the French player eventually taking the match 7-5 7-6 and setting up a meeting with Lithuania’s Ricardas Berankis in the last eight.

Berankis progresses to the quarter finals off the back of an impressive 6-4 7-5 win over former world no. 18 Igor Andreev.

Tags Benoit Paire farmers classic hard court tennis Marinko Matosevic michael russell Tobias Kamke