Stockholm - German Tommy Haas fell victim to influenza while the new-found momentum died for Feliciano Lopez as two more seeds exited the Stockholm Open in the second round Thursday. Number two Haas withdrew for the second straight week from an ATP event, pulling out ill before his contest against Finn Jarkko Nieminen.
Lopez, the eighth seed, became a victim of Belgium's 87th-ranked little man Oliver Rochus improving his record to 3-1 in their series with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 comeback victory.
Lopez, who reached the highlight of his season with last weekend's losing semi-final in Shanghai against Rafael Nadal - Lopez quit with foot and ankle problems - fell back to his current status quo with the loss to Rochus.
The Spanish left-hander fired 15 aces in his losing cause over two hours.
Haas cited influenza as the reason for failing to take the court against Nieminen, who underwent wrist surgery this season and then missed several weeks after the US Open with a virus.
Haas quit in the second round of last week's Shanghai Masters trailing 6-4 against fellow German Rainer Schuettler, stopping play as a precaution due to shoulder pain.
Haas also withdrew at mid-match in the Montreal second round in August against Fernando Gonzalez.
The match against Nieminen would have been the first for Haas against the 120th-ranked Finn since 2002. The walkover loss leaves Haas on 31-17 this season
A pair of former Australian Open finalists line up after Marcos Bahdatis and Arnaud Clement won through.
Baghdatis, 2006 Melbourne runner-up to Roger Federer, was a smiling again after beating American Robert Kendrick 6-2, 6-2.
Clement, who lost in 2001 finalist to Andre Agassi in Australia, took two and a half hours to overcome 12 aces from GermanMichael Berrer in a 3-6, 7-6 (9/7), 6-1 comeback.
Baghdatis said his attitude could not be better after a run of injury. "I'm feeling fit which is the most important thing.
"When you wake up in the morning and you don't feel any pain, it's easier to play good tennis. I'm having a good run now and enjoying myself on the court. I'm hungry to do well and I want to come back stronger than before."
Top seed and two-time finalist Robin Soderling, chasing one of two remaining spots in the November season finals in London, continued his points quest when he faced Italian Andreas Seppi later.
