Top Seeds crash out

 

Originally published on: 26/02/10 12:19

Seeded fourth and a winner at this claycourt event in Buenos Aires in 2003 and 2006, the veteran Moya fell in straight sets to Argentinian qualifier Maximo Gonzalez 6-4 6-4. The 32-year-old and former number one has 20 career singles titles, but has not captured ATP hardware since winning at Umag in July 2007.

Almagro was eliminated by fellow Spaniard Oscar Hernandez 6-2 1-6 6-3 as the number 77 ranked player in the world avenged a second-round loss to Almagro here last year.

Other seeded losers included eighth-seeded Eduardo Schwank and number six Albert Montanes, who lost to qualifier Pablo Cuevas and Martin Vassallo Arguello respectively.

Coming off a victory at Costa do Sauipe last week, third-seeded Spaniard Tommy Robredo dropped the first set to Italy’s Potito Starace before emerging with a 5-7 6-3 6-3 victory.

Another former champion had no trouble reaching the second round as 2007 winner Juan Monaco crushed fellow Argentinian Sergio Roitman 6-0 6-0 in 58 minutes. It is the first “double bagel” to occur on the ATP Tour since April 2007.

Monaco, unseeded this week, made up for his forgettable title defence here last season, when compatriot Agustin Calleri knocked him out in the opening round.

Last year’s runner-up to David Nalbandian, Jose Acasuso had to claw his way to a 6-2 7-6 (7/4) triumph over qualifier Daniel Munoz-De La Nava in one hour, 50 minutes. The fifth-seeded Argentine advanced to face Italian Fabio Fognini, who beat Pablo Andujar 6-3 6-2.

Seventh seed Marcel Granollers of Spain also booked his place in the second round via a 7-5 7-5 win over Thomaz Bellucci. Other winners included Diego Junqueira, Franco Ferreiro and Daniel Gimeno-Traver.

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