David Nalbandian completed a successful return to competitive action in Buenos Aires on Tuesday after a long injury layoff.
Straight sets victory for Argentinian after injury layoff
David Nalbandian completed a successful return to competitive action on Tuesday after a long injury layoff, the Argentinian beating Potito Starace at the Copa Telmex in Buenos Aires.
The former world number three, who had been out of action since undergoing hip surgery in May, won the first set of his first-round clash on Monday before torrential rain ended the day's play.
He returned on Tuesday to complete a 6-2 7-6 (7/2) victory over the Italian to secure his place in round two.
Meanwhile, Spanish pair David Ferrer and Juan Carlos Ferrero, the top two seeds, both reached the second round with ease.
Top seed Ferrer defeated Germany's Simon Greul 6-2 7-6 (7/3) while Ferrero was a 6-1 6-2 winner against Brazilian Ricardo Mello.
It was a good day for Spain all round with fifth seed Albert Montanes beating Uruguay's Pablo Cuevas 6-2 6-2 and wild card Carlos Moya seeing off Italian Filippo Volandri 6-2 7-5.
Marcel Granollers progressed with a 6-1 6-2 triumph over Argentinian qualifier Diego Junqueira, Spanish qualifier Santiago Ventura ousted Daniel Koellerer of Austria 6-4 6-2 and Pablo Andujar prevailed 6-4 6-1 in the all-Spanish match-up with Oscar Hernandez.
There will also be plenty of home interest alongside Nalbandian in round two after Juan Ignacio Chela overcame France's Richard Gasquet 7-6 (7/3) 7-5, fourth seed Juan Monaco beat Poland's Lukasz Kubot 6-4 7-6 (7/1) and eighth seed Horacio Zeballos defeated wild card compatriot Gaston Gaudio 6-3 3-6 6-3.
Elsewhere, sixth-seeded Russian Igor Andreev was too strong for Fabio Fognini and Brazil's Marcos Daniel overcame another Italian, Paolo Lorenzi, in straight sets.
