Seeds tumble at French Open before the rain

0 Comments | AFP, May, 2008

PARIS (AFP) — Roland Garros seeds David Nalbandian and James Blake were sent crashing out of the French Open at the second round stage on Thursday.

If the seventh-seeded Blake's 7-6 (7/2), 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 loss to Ernests Gulbis of Latvia was only a minor upset, given his dislike for clay, sixth seed Nalbandian's 3-6, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1, 6-2 collapse at the hands of French wildcard Jeremy Chardy was a shocker.

Following their exits, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal got their second round games underway but the action did not last long as heavy rain sent players and fans scurrying for cover.

At that stage defending champion Nadal was a set and 5-0 up against France's Nicolas Devilder, while top seed Federer was level 5-5 with Albert Montanes of Spain having saved two...