Several leading players have been eliminated in the second round of the Heineken Tennis Open in Auckland.
Third seed Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain was forced to concede his match to the Swiss qualifier Michael Lammer when he twisted an ankle in the opening set and was unable to continue.
The injury also places him in doubt for the Australian Open next week in Melbourne.
Fourth seed Nicholas Almagro of Spain lost in straight sets to the unseeded Marc Giquel, while seventh seed Juan Monaco of Argentina lost to American John Isner.
Rubin Statham, who was hoping to become the first New Zealander in eleven years to get past the second round had several chances to win the first set, against eighth seed Albert Montanes, but lost in a tiebreak.
Montanes then easily won the second set 6-2.
The top seed Tommy Robredo of Spain is through to the quarterfinals but had to survive two tiebreakers in his second round match, against the unseeded Simon Greul of Germany.
Robredo won 7-6, 7-6.
While fifth seed and previous tournament winner, Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany, also progressed to the last eight.
