Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (SportsNetwork.com) - World No. 1 Rafael Nadal and third-seeded Fabio Fognini were second-round winners Thursday at the inaugural $1.3 million Rio Open.
Nadal dropped only three games and recorded six breaks of serve in a 6-1, 6-2 thrashing of fellow Spaniard Albert Montanes on the red clay at Jockey Club Brasileiro.
Nadal was dominant from the start, winning nine of the first 10 games. Montanes recovered a break to close within 3-2 in the second set, but he had his serve broken in the next game and Nadal broke again to seal the victory,
Up next for Nadal will be Portugal's Joao Sousa, who battled past Spaniard Albert Ramos 7-6 (8-6), 2-6, 6-3.
Meanwhile, Fognini, held off Uruguay's Pablo Cuevas 7-6 (7-1), 4-6, 6-3. The Italian lost in Sunday's final in Buenos Aires after capturing the title in Chile two weeks ago.
Awaiting Fognini in the quarters is Alexandr Dolgopolov. The Ukrainian overcame Argentine qualifier Facundo Bagnis 6-7 (4-7), 6-2, 7-6 (7-4).
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