Since his runner-up finish at Scottsdale in late February, Norman's game has all but fallen apart. He has failed to win consecutive matches at any event and has lost his past four matches, including all three at the World Team Cup in Dusseldorf last week.

"I know how I can my play when I'm at my top, I just have to find it," said a depressed Norman, who committed a whopping 92 unforced errors in the contest.

"I was two points from the match in the third set and I started to think about it, because I haven't won too many matches recently.  All of a sudden he went and took advantage of it."

Sanchez, a self-confessed claycourt specialist who spends much of his time on the challenger circuit, cooly dissected the Norman artillery during the match, bombarding 56 winners past the ninth seed, despite having to contend with 11 Norman aces.

Like Quixote, a comical fictional character who travels throughout Spain, searching for adventures and opportunities to protect the defenseless and right the wronged, Sanchez's escapades are set to continue in the next second round.

Waiting for the gallant Spaniard there is 1998 Roland Garros champion and countryman Carlos Moya, who was victorious over Feliciano Lopez in straight sets on Tuesday.