Second seed and world number six ranked Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero has made an early exit from the Japan Open tennis tournament in Tokyo after losing 6-3, 6-3 to Swedish qualifier Magnus Norman.
In a second-round match Thursday, Norman blasted 13 aces past Ferrero, who won a tournament last week in Hong Kong.
In other men's action, Martin Verkerk of the Netherlands upset sixth seeded American James Blake 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, and eighth seed Paradorn Srichaphan of Thailand beat Lars Burgsmuller of Germany 6-3, 6-4.
Also, Denmark's Kenneth Carlsen dismissed 11th seed Dominik Hrbaty of Slovakia in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4, while Japan's Takao Suzuki won a second set tiebreaker to defeat American Brian Vahaly 6-3, 7-6. Cecil Mamiit of the United States won only one game in a quick 6-0, 6-1 straight sets loss to Argentina's Juan Ignacio Chela.
On the women's side, hometown favorite and top seed Ai Sugiyama beat unseeded countrywoman Akiko Morigami in straight sets, 6-3, 7-5, and American Sarah Taylor advanced to the third round after upsetting third seed Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario of Spain 6-3, 7-6.
In two other upsets, Jill Craybas of the United States eliminated fourth seed Emmanuelle Gagliardi of Switzerland in three sets, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 and Croatia's Silvija Talaja defeated seventh seed Virginia Ruano Pascual of Spain in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3.
Also, number eight Jelena Kostanic of Croatia took three sets to defeat Spain's Marta Marrero 5-7, 6-0, 6-2.