Wednesday 4th November 2009
Murray eases through in Spain
Andy Murray did not have to be at his best as he wrapped up a comfortable victory in the first round of the Valencia Open 500.
Facing Spanish wildcard Daniel Gimeno-Traver, the Scot overcame a sloppy spell in the first set to secure a 6-3 6-1 win.
World number four Murray raced into a 3-0 lead before taking the first set with three breaks of serve, and improved in the second set to break twice more and wrap up a 6-3 6-1 win in a match which lasted exactly an hour.
Home hope Juan Carlos Ferrero was dumped out after a stirring comeback from Uruguay's Pablo Cuevas.
Ferrero led 6-2 5-2 and looked set to close out victory inside an hour, but his 23-year-old opponent roared back to take the second set on a tie-break.
A second-serve ace then brought about his first match point and, though that was saved, he took the second to complete a 2-6 7-6 (7/4) 6-3 win.
There was better news for eighth seed David Ferrer, who came through a tight all-Spanish clash with Nicolas Almagro.
A late second break gave Ferrer the first set 7-5 and, after dropping the second on a tie-break, he stormed through the decider to win 7-5 6-7 (3/7) 6-2 in two hours, 17 minutes.
Seeded Frenchmen Gilles Simon and Gael Monfils enjoyed straight-sets wins, fifth seed Simon seeing off Russia's Igor Kunitsyn 6-3 6-2 in just over 54 minutes.
Monfils, one place below his compatriot in the seedings, dropped only one game more in a 6-4 6-2 triumph against home wildcard Marcel Granollers.
Seventh seed Tommy Robredo of Spain was pegged back after a flying start, but still saw off Belgium's Christophe Rochus 6-0 5-7 6-3.
Juan Monaco beat fellow Argentinian Martin Vassallo Arguello 6-3 6-2 and countryman Leonardo Mayer completed a bad day for Russia by hammering Igor Andreev 6-3 6-3 to set up a clash with top seed Murray.
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