Almagro starts hat-trick bid with win
Date published :
24 Feb 2010 - 06:38:00
Nicolas Almagro began his quest for a third consecutive title at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel tournament with a straight sets win over Dudi Sela.
The sixth-seeded Spaniard won 6-1 7-6 (7/0) to stretch his winning run at the clay-court tournament to 11 matches. Almagro will next meet Richard Gasquet who ousted another former champion, Carlos Moya, on Monday.
Top seed Fernando Verdasco recovered from a slow start against Fabio Fognini before romping to victory 2-6 6-4 6-0.
There was also a scare for the second seed, Fernando Gonzalez, who needed a third-set tie-break before eventually beating Sam Querrey 6-4 3-6 7-6 (7/2).
It was an easier day for third seed David Ferrer who coasted past Potito Starace 6-2 6-4. Ferrer was joined in the second round by compatriot, and fourth seed, Juan Carlos Ferrero who won 6-2 6-3 against Diego Junquiera.
Eighth seed Albert Montanes was the fourth Spaniard to progress on Tuesday when he beat his countryman Daniel Gimeno-Traver 7-5 4-6 6-2.
Argentinian duo Juan Monaco and Juan Ignacio Chela also won through to the second round where they will meet each other.
Seventh seed Monaco beat Alberto Martin 6-7 (8/6) 7-5 6-2 in two hours and 30 minutes while Chela won a topsy-turvy battle with Peter Luczak 6-1 0-6 6-1.
World number 21 John Isner suffered a surprise loss to Simon Greul 7-6 (7/4) 7-5 while Uruguay's Pablo Cuevas claimed his first win in three attempts in Acapulco following an epic 1-6 7-5 7-6 (10/8) victory over Brazilian Marcos Daniel.
Lukasz Kubot, who reached the fourth round at the Australian Open, eased past Horacio Zeballos 6-1 6-2. There were also wins for Igor Andreev who beat Victor Crivoi 6-3 6-4 and Victor Hanescu who overcame Frederico Gil 7-6 (7/5) 6-3.
