Ferrero crashes out

Ferrero was knocked out in straight sets

Click here for Thursday's results from Milan

Italy's Davide Sanguinetti has sprung the shock of the second round of the Milan ATP tournament by knocking out number-one seed Juan Carlos Ferrero.

Sanguinetti never let the Spaniard have a chance, winning 6-2 6-4.

Ferrero, who finished fifth in the ATP Champions Race last season, admitted he had been outplayed by the 29-year-old local favourite.

"I played better than I did in the first round but today Sanguinetti played so well," said Ferrero, who withdrew from the Australian Open before the start earlier this month with a knee injury.

I did not expect such a tough match

Roger Federer

"I have beaten him twice on clay in the past but both times it was difficult and he was really strong all round," said Ferrero.

Sanguinetti, who had previously won just once in 17 games against top-10 opposition was ecstatic with his surprise victory.

"Everything was perfect. I think I missed about two shots all the game. Even my forehand, which is not my strong point, was great. I could have hit it blind today," said the Italian.

Earlier, second seed and defending champion Roger Federer had to battle hard to see off the challenge of Russian Nikolay Davydenko at the Milan Indoor tournament.

The 20-year-old Swiss player finally claimed his place in the quarter-finals with a 6-3 6-7 (7-4) 7-5 victory that took more than two hours.

Federer took the first set thanks to some strong serving and a solid backhand but went off the boil in the second and allowed his opponent back into the match.

Federer was made to work hard for his win

Davydenko, also 20, took the second set on a tie-break and then had a break point in the 11th game of the third set.

But he failed to convert it and lost the match when he was broken in the next game.

Despite his close shave against Davydenko, Federer said afterwards that he was happy with the way he was playing.

"My confidence is higher (than last year)," he said.

"My play has improved, my serve is stronger. I'm here to defend the title," he said.

Fifth seed Younes El Aynaoui had a much more comfortable passage to the quarter-finals.

The Moroccan breezed past Italian wild card Stefano Galvani 6-4 6-3.

Unseeded Dutchman Sjeng Schalken dismissed Brazilian Andre Sa 6-3 6-0 and will now face seventh seed Greg Rusedski in the next round.

Big-serving Max Myrni also won, beating Czech player Michel Tabara 6-1 6-2.

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Thursday's second-round results:

Davide Sanguinetti (Ita) beat Juan Carlos Ferrero (Spa - 1) 6-2 6-4 Roger Federer (Swi - 2) bt Nikolay Davydenkoo (Rus) 6-3 6-7 (5-7) 7-5
Younes El Aynaoui (Mor - 5) bt Stefano Galvani (It) 6-4 6-3
Sjeng Schalken (Ned) bt Andre Sa (Brz) 6-3 6-0
Mas Mirnyi (Blr) bt Michel Tabara (Cze) 6-1 6-2
Sargis Sargsian (Arm) bt Michel Kratochvil (Swi) 6-4 6-4