Bagdhatis shocked, Nadal and Moya advance to second round

Chennai, Jan 1 (UNI) World No 16 and second seed Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus was among the two seeded players suffered shock exit, even as top seed and title favourite Rafael Nadal and twice champion Carlos Moya, both Spain, eased into the second round of the Chennai Open ATP tennis tournament here tonight.

While fancied Baghdatis was shocked by unseeded Dutchman Robin Haase 6-3, 6-4 in straight sets, eighth seeded Marc Gicquel of France was the other seeded player to crash out, losing to Kristof Vliegen of Belgium 7-6(5), 6-4.

But it was business as usual for favourite Nadal, who quelled a belated challenge from Mathieu Montcourt of France before winning 6-2, 6-4 and his fellow countryman third seed Moya, looking for a record third title, pulverised Teimuraz Gabashvili of Russia 6-4, 6-1. Fifth seeded Nicolas Mahut of France had it easy over Denis Gremelmayr of Germany winning 6-3, 6-3 to enter the second round.

Indian born American Rajeev Ram, who came through the qualifying rounds, surprised 122 ranked Yuri Schukin of Russia 7-6(6), 7-6(2) and would meet Nadal in the next round.

In other first round matches, young Spaniard Bartolome Salva-Vidal put up a brave fight before going down fighting to seventh seeded Werner Eschauer of Austria 6-7(3), 7-5, 4-6 in a three hour encounter, while Guillermo Garcia Lopes of Spain accounted for Alexander Peya of Austria 6-4, 6-4. Qualifer Lovro Zovka of Croatia also created a flutter. downing unseeded Thierry Ascone of France 6-4, 6-0 in straight sets.

(ED: Pick up suitably from earlier series).

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