Vina del Mar, Chile – Former finalist Santiago Giraldo posted a first-round victory Monday at the $410,000 VTR Open.
The Colombian Giraldo came from behind to beat Argentine Martin Alund 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 in just over two hours on the red clay at Club Naval de Campo Las Salinas.
Giraldo was the runner-up at this event two years ago in Santiago.
Also advancing on Day 1 was Italian Filippo Volandri, who whipped Argentine Leonardo Mayer, 6-2, 6-1.
The top seeds here are former world No. 1 star Rafael Nadal and reigning champion Juan Monaco, who is Nadal's doubles partner this week. Both players received opening-round byes and will play a doubles match here on Tuesday.
Nadal will play his first tennis since last June after being sidelined with a knee injury. The Spanish great, who owns 11 Grand Slam titles, including a record seven French Open championships in the Open Era, will appear in a South American tournament for the first time since 2005, when he won a title in Brazil as an 18-year-old.
Monaco beat this week's eighth seed, Carlos Berlocq, in last year's all- Argentine Vina del Mar finale and was the runner-up at this event in 2008 and 2010.
Vina del Mar kicks off the "Golden Swing" portion of the ATP calendar in Latin America.
This week's winner will collect $74,000.
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