Nadal, Ferrer win Rio openers

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (SportsNetwork.com) - World No. 1 Rafael Nadal and second-seeded David Ferrer each prevailed in straight sets in their first- round matches at the inaugural $1.3 million Rio Open, which is part of the ATP World Tour's 'Golden Swing' through Latin America.

Nadal handled fellow Spaniard Daniel Gimeno-Traver 6-3, 7-5 on the red clay at Jockey Club Brasileiro. Ferrer, fresh off a title in Buenos Aires over the weekend, had little trouble disposing of Jeremy Chardy by a 6-2, 6-3 count.

Third-seeded Fabio Fognini had a tougher time in his opening bout, but bounced back from a rough second set against Aljaz Bedene to record a 7-6 (7-5), 0-6, 6-1 verdict over the Slovenian qualifier.

Meanwhile, fourth-seeded Tommy Robredo took care of fellow Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 and Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov upended fifth- seeded Spaniard Nicolas Almagro 2-6, 6-3, 6-0.

Almagro has captured 12 ATP tournaments -- all on clay, and six on the annual Golden Swing.

In other action involving seeds, Portugal's Joao Sousa took out sixth-seeded Spaniard Marcel Granollers 2-6, 6-3, 7-5, No. 7 Juan Monaco mauled fellow Argentine Horacio Zeballos 6-3, 6-1, and No. 8 Spaniard Pablo Andujar handled German Julian Reister 6-4, 6-3.

Also, Spaniard Albert Ramos ripped Argentine Leonardo Mayer 6-2, 6-0, Albert Montanes delivered a 6-1, 7-6 (7-4) victory over Robin Haase and Pablo Cuevas downed Alejandro Gonzalez 6-7 (0-7), 6-1, 6-3.

Montanes' win sets up a second-round clash with Nadal.