Blake exits early; only two Americans remain

PARIS (AP) — James Blake’s frustration rose to a crescendo Thursday.

The top U.S. man in the French Open was talking to himself, and the words were growing louder. He was bothered by the clay underfoot. By the chair umpire. By his own play. And, most of all, by the drop shots and assorted other winners his up-and-coming foe produced.

For the fifth time in six career trips to Roland Garros, Blake departed before the third round, losing this time to 80th-ranked Ernests Gulbis of Latvia 7-6 (2), 3-6, 7-5, 6-3. It was part of a 1-3 showing by American men Thursday, when Mardy Fish and Bobby Reynolds also lost.

The 88th-ranked Robby Ginepri knocked off No. 27 Igor Andreev 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (5), 6-2 to join Wayne Odesnik as the only players from the United States in the third round.

“Americans a lot of times don’t have the highest expectations on clay,” the No. 7-seeded Blake said. “But I really felt like this match today was a match I could have won.”

There were moments, if ever so brief, that similar thoughts ran through the minds of the men facing No. 1 Roger Federer and No. 2 Rafael Nadal.

Federer’s opponent, 60th-ranked Albert Montanes of Spain, staked himself to a one-set lead — and then was overwhelmed the rest of the way in a 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-0, 6-4 victory for the owner of 12 Grand Slam titles.

Nadal’s opponent, 148th-ranked Nicolas Devilder of France, was one point from serving for the first set, holding a break point at 4-all — and then was completely overwhelmed the rest of the way in a 6-4, 6-0, 6-1 victory for the owner of the past three French Open titles.

“His forehand was not a big problem for me to start with. And I thought, ‘Why not? Why not?’ ” Devilder said.

And then?

“The games go by so quickly,” he said, “and you think: ‘When is it going to end?’ ”

Nadal improved to 23-0 at Roland Garros and said he’s “improving with each match.”

Federer, meanwhile, called his outing “a good test.”

He saved all six break points he faced, including two during a rain shower while trailing 5-4 in the first set. After a 11‚Ñ2-hour rain delay — making it the fourth of the tournament’s five days with wet weather — he came out and lost the tie-breaker.

But as Federer put it: “Bounced back strong.”

In the third round at the only major tournament he hasn’t won, Federer faces a familiar opponent: Mario Ancic of Croatia, the last man to beat him at Wimbledon, back in 2002.