Granollers crashes out

 

Originally published on: 26/02/10 12:04

In one of only three games on the opening day of the tournament, Nishikori defied the odds to set up a second-round meeting with Slovak Dominik Hrbaty, a 6-2 6-1 winner over Pablo Andujar.

Ecuador’s Nicolas Lapentti also moved through with a 3-6 7-6 (9-7) 7-5 triumph over Ivan Navarro of Spain.

The favourites get underway on Tuesday.

Thomas Johansson is the home favourite as he looks to win another title with his career moving into its twilight years.

The 33-year-old has not claimed a singles championship since October 2005, but the he has been energised by the partisan crowd here in the past.

Johansson won this hardcourt tournament in 2000 and 2004, was a runner-up in 1998 and has reached the quarter-finals or better in seven of his 12 appearances.

A former top-10 player currently ranked 87th, Johansson will opens up against seventh-seeded Spaniard Albert Montanes.

The only top-30 player in the field is Argentina’s David Nalbandian, who will face American Bobby Reynolds in the first round.

The world number seven is top-seeded here, but has endured his share of upsets this season with nine of his 13 losses coming against players ranked outside the top 25.

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