Ferrer, the 2007 champion on the central Auckland courts, wasted little time against an error-prone Nalbandian to win in just 68 minutes.
Strangely enough, the pair could meet again next week in Melbourne in the third round at the Australian Open should they both make it that far.
Nalbandian has been drawn to face local favorite Lleyton Hewitt in the first round, while Ferrer will meet Finland's Jarkko Niemenen -- himself a former Auckland champion.
(Reporting by Greg Stutchbury in Wellington; Editing by John O'Brien; To comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
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