Early Berdych exit hands Tour Finals rivals big chance

PabloAndujar

Berdych went into Wednesday's match at the ATP World Tour 500 indoor tournament brimming with confidence following his win at the Stockholm Open last weekend. 

But the world number six fell at the first hurdle in Spain against home hope Andujar, who wrapped up a 6-3 6-2 victory thanks in part to an impressive service game.

Andujar gave up just three points on serve as he wrapped up the opening set comfortably and it was a similar story in the second, Berdych unable to force one break in the entire match. 

With Berdych currently seventh in the ATP Race To London rankings - the top eight players battle it out in the World Tour Finals - Andy Murray and David Ferrer have been handed a golden opportunity to take advantage. 

Murray and Ferrer are eighth and ninth respectively in the scramble for place at the O2 Arena next month and they duly progressed at the expense of Jurgen Melzer and Andreas Seppi following Berdych's exit earlier in the day. 

Third seed Murray blasted 10 aces on his way to a 6-3 6-3 success, while Ferrer - the 2008, 2010 and 2012 Valencia Open champion as well as last year's runner-up - set up an all-Spanish second-round clash with Fernando Verdasco after winning 6-3 7-5.

Roberto Bautista Agut set about putting the disappointment of Sunday's Kremlin Cup final defeat behind him as he overcame Santiago Giraldo 6-4 6-4, while Thomaz Bellucci got the better of Mikhail Youzhny 7-5 6-3.  

In the day's two second-round matches, fourth seed Feliciano Lopez was humbled 6-4 6-4 by fellow Spaniard Pablo Carreno-Busta and Tommy Robredo triumphed 6-2 6-4 against Lu Yen-hsun.

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