Ferrer flushes Somdev out of SA Open

Johannesburg: Somdev Devvarman's good run at the ATP SA Open was cut short with a crushing straight-set defeat at the hands of second seed Spaniard David Ferrer.

The World number 18 proved too hot to handle for the unseeded Indian, who suffered a 1-6 3-6 mauling in the quarter-finals of the USD 442,500 hard court event. Somdev earned 45 ranking points and pocketed USD 12,325 for reaching the last-eight stage.

Somdev had stunned sixth seed Xavier Malisse in the opening round and then beat Thiago Alves of Brazil in the next round.

Rohan Bopanna is still in the fray and the Indian will feature in the semifinal clash along with partner Aisam Qureshi in the men's doubles category.