Second-seeded Juan Carlos Ferrero, also of Spain, beat Richard Mello of Brazil 6-1, 6-2 on the on the red clay in Argentina. Ferrero's victory came just two days after the former world No. 1 won the Brazil Open - also on his favorite clay-court surface - for his 13th ATP title.
Argentina's David Nalbandian beat Potito Starace of Italy 6-2, 7-6 (2). Nalbandian won the first set on Monday before torrential rain caused the remainder of the match to be completed Tuesday.
Story continues below ↓advertisement | your ad hereIt was Nalbandian's first match since having hip surgery in May. He had hoped to return in January for a tournament in Auckland, New Zealand, but strained abdominal muscles while warming up for a match.
"I'm happy to be able to play tennis again, to compete," Nalbandian said. "Being away from the circuit so long, it helped to play at home in Argentina. It helped to motivate me.
"I played very well considering it was my first match in so long," he added. "I hope it stays like this. I felt very good, but my body needs time to adjust to playing on tour."
Fourth-seeded Juan Monaco of Argentina also advanced, defeating Poland's Lukasz Kubot 6-4, 7-6 (1), while No. 6 Igor Andreev of Russia beat Fabio Fognini of Italy 7-5, 7-6 (4) and No. 8 Horacio Zeballos of Argentina rallied past countryman Gaston Gaudio 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.
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