Injuries stop Tsonga, Tipsarevic in Spain

VALENCIA, Spain, Oct. 23 (UPI) -- High seeds Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Janko Tipsarevic both retired from first-round matches at the Valencia Open in Spain Tuesday due to injuries.

Tsonga, seeded No. 2, had a back issue and the third-seeded Tipsarevic had a right shoulder problem. The injuries are blows to the chances of both players to gain invitations to the ATP World Tour Finals.

Eight players are invited -- although world No. 4 Rafael Nadal is injured, which creates another opening -- and there are counting Nadal's spot, three invitations outstanding. Tsonga is eighth in the finals standings and Tipsarevic ninth.

But Tsonga withdrew Tuesday after his back problem with Xavier Malisse up 3-1 in the first set. Tipsarevic was down 5-4 to Gilles Simon when he had to stop play.

Another notable loss was Juan Ferrero, who announced last month he was retiring from the ATP after the Valencia tournament. Sixth-seeded Nicolas Almagro beat Ferrero 7-5, 6-3, ending a career that saw Ferrero reach the No. 1 ranking for eight weeks in 2003 and win 16 tournament titles.

Top-seeded David Ferrer eked out a 7-5, 7-5 decision over Olivier Rochus in a 2-hour, 13-minute match. Ferrer had 18 break points but only finished off five of them.

Also Tuesday, Sam Querrey defeated Feliciano Lopez 6-3, 7-6 (7-4); Alexandr Dolgopolov got by Filippo Volandri 6-3, 7-6 (7-5); and Jurgen Melzer topped Carlos Berlocq 6-3, 6-3.