Bjorkman beaten in final Swedish Open

BASTAD, Sweden, July 10 (UPI) -- Defending champion David Ferrer and third-seeded Tommy Robredo each won straight-set victories Thursday in the second round of the Swedish Open.

Ferrer, who is also the top seed in the clay-court tournament, eliminated Boris Pashanski 7-5, 6-1 while Robredo defeated Jonas Bjorkman, 6-2, 6-3.

That match marks the final Swedish Open appearance for Bjorkman, who was playing in his home country. Bjorkman, 36, said he is retiring at the end of the season. He won six tournaments in his career and was ranked as high as fourth in the world in 1997.

Ferrer will go against No. 8-seeded Robin Soderling in Friday's quarterfinals. Soderling advanced Thursday with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Olivier Rochus.

Also Thursday seventh-seeded Jarkko Nieminen dispatched Steve Darcis, 6-3, 6-1, and earned a quarterfinal match against Robredo.

Friday's other quarterfinals send No. 2-seeded Fernando Verdasco against Bjorn Rehnquist and fourth-seeded Tomas Berdych against Potito Starace.