Roger Federer was the biggest casualty as the seeds tumbled on a day of shocks at the Rome Masters today.
World number one Federer was downed 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (9-7) by Czech Radek Stepanek while eighth seed James Blake fell to Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka 6-7 (5-7) 7-6 (7-5) 6-1.
Federer was out of sorts throughout the match with his backhand particularly misfiring badly.
"You've seen me many times, it happens all the time," he moaned afterwards. "It's something I've been trying to get rid of for 10 years but still not today."
Although he lamented his backhand, he said there was more than just that wrong with his game.
"I don't know if it was just the backhand. I think I missed plenty of opportunities throughout the match," he said. "He's difficult to play. He gives you little rhythm and he always changes his game up a lot.
"I've played against him in the past so it wasn't much of a surprise. I just hoped I could have played a little better."
Stepanek employed an attacking strategy, coming to the net at every opportunity.
That paid off in the first set tie-break when he came in to the net on Federer's serve and earned a mini-break with a stunning drop volley for 5-4. He won his next two service points to claim the first set.
In the second set he broke Federer at the first opportunity but was broken back at 4-2.
However, that was when Federer's backhand went awry and he was broken again, leaving Stepanek to serve for the match. Federer rallied, though, and held on to force a second set tie-break.
He went up two mini-breaks in that but simply could not find his game and eventually succumbed in that 9-7, losing to the Czech for only the second time in six encounters.
Stepanek, who was watched by his girlfriend, the teenage Czech player Nicole Vaidisova, said his attacking play had been key.
"That was very important because once you let Roger play his game he can work the ball very well, move you around the court and put pressure on you," said the world number 27.
"I wanted to put pressure on him and it paid off. You try every tournament to get to Sunday but there are a lot of competitors on tour."
