MASON - August 14, 2006 - After a first-round exit last week in Toronto, No. 3 seed David Nalbandian proved he was back on track by dismissing South African Rik De Voest 6-0, 6-4. Nalbandian, playing only his second tournament since Wimbledon, fought off a 2-hour and 19-minute rain delay to rack up his 32nd win of the season.
"I was sick last week in Toronto, so I don't think I'm hundred percent yet," said the Argentine. "But the match for today was good, and I think if I keep going, every single day will be better for me."
A Cincinnati quarterfinalist in 2003, Nalbandian will next take on the winner of wild card Stanislas Wawrinka and compatriot Jose Acasuso.
Australian Open finalist Marcos Baghdatis opened his Cincinnati campaign by edging Thomas Johansson 7-6(3), 7-6(3). Baghdatis, the No. 8 seed, is playing just his second tournament since reaching the semifinals at Wimbledon (l. to Nadal). The Cypriot fired 10 aces and won 91 percent of his first serve points.
“It was a weird match, not a lot of rhythm,” said Baghdatis after his first career match in Cincinnati. “I played good on important points, and that made the difference.”
Baghdatis awaits the winner of Gael Monfils and Marat Safin.
Nikolay Davydenko became the first seed to tumble out of Cincinnati when he fell to Argentine Juan Ignacio Chela 6-4, 2-6, 6-2. No. 5 seed Davydenko advanced to the quarterfinals here last year before falling to former Cincinnati champion Lleyton Hewitt.
Chela continued his impressive form against Davydenko by taking down the Russian for the fifth time in as many attempts. Chela’s best results of the season came at Acapulco and Kitzbuhel where he reached the final. The Argentine will aim to reach the third round for the fourth consecutive year when he battles qualifier Vincent Spadea.
Dmitry Tursunov moved into the second round by defeating Frenchman Sebastien Grosjean 4-6, 6-4, 6-3. In their only previous meeting, Grosjean outlasted the Russian in five sets at Wimbledon last year.
In other early action on Monday, Nicolas Almagro defeated fellow Spaniard Alberto Martin 6-3, 6-3, while Frenchman Florent Serra ousted countryman Julien Benneteau 6-3, 6-3.
