BARCELONA, Spain -- Tommy Robredo and David Nalbandian
advanced to the third round of the Open Seat Godo on Tuesday, and
former champions Marat Safin and Gaston Gaudio were eliminated in
first round matches.
Third-seeded Robredo beat fellow Spaniard Feliciano Lopez 6-2,
6-2 with five service breaks and 33 first-serve winners. Robredo
next faces 15th-seeded Agustin Calleri of Argentina.
"I was nervous about playing at home but I'm happy with the
match," said Robredo, the 2004 champion and runner-up last year to
Rafael Nadal.
"It's great to be back at No. 5 (in the ATP rankings) -- let's
see how long it lasts. I'm not in top physical shape but my
technique and mental approach are all right."
Fourth-seeded Nalbandian routed Alberto Martin of Spain 6-2,
6-0, reaching the quarterfinals for the first time this season.
Safin and Gaudio both lost in straight sets.
Safin, the 2000 champion, was surprised by Italian Simone
Bolelli 6-4, 7-6 (5). Gaudio lost in 43 minutes to Robin Soderling
of Sweden 6-1, 6-0.
Kristof Vliegen of Belgium defeated Davide Sanguinetti of Italy
6-2, 6-4 and will next try to end the 67-match winning streak on
clay of two-time defending champion Nadal.
Carlos Moya, another past winner and No. 1, beat Marcel
Granollers-Pujol of Spain 6-2, 6-4 and set up a second-round match
with 1999 champ Felix Mantilla.
Guillermo Canas of Argentina, following his run to the final at
Key Biscayne, opened his European clay court season with a 6-2, 7-6
(4) win over Max Mirnyi of Belarus.
Spain's Nicolas Almagro beat Fabio Fognini 6-3, 6-2 and lined up
another Italian, Filippo Volandri.