Fognini stays hot in Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires, Argentina (SportsNetwork.com) - Last week's Vina del Mar champion, Fabio Fognini, was an easy opening-round winner Tuesday at the Copa Claro tennis event, which is part of the ATP World Tour's 'Golden Swing' through Latin America.

The second-seeded Italian star dismissed German Julian Reister 7-5, 6-2 on the red clay at Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club.

Meanwhile, sixth-seeded Dutchman Robin Haase outlasted Argentine qualifier Martin Alund 6-4, 6-7 (6-8), 6-3.

Also on Tuesday, last week's Chile Open runner-up to Fognini, Leonardo Mayer, defeated wild card and fellow Argentine Facundo Arguello 6-3, 6-4 and Colombian Santiago Giraldo topped Spaniard Albert Montanes 7-6 (7-4), 6-2. Mayer will face Fognini once again in the round of 16 this week.

This week's top seed is two-time reigning champion David Ferrer, who beat last month's Australian Open champ Stan Wawrinka in last year's Buenos Aires finale. The French Open runner-up Ferrer was also a Copa Claro finalist back in 2010.

The Spaniard Ferrer will open his latest Buenos Aires stay against Giraldo.