Volandri topples Montanes in Brazil

Sao Paulo, Brazil – Italy's Filippo Volandri cruised to a set win over seventh-seeded Albert Montanes on Monday in the first round of the $475,300 Brasil Open.

Volandri won nearly 80 percent of his first-serve points to upset the Spaniard 6-2, 6-3 in their sixth career meeting.

The 30-year-old Italian improved to 4-2 with his second straight win over the 31-year-old Montanes.

Also on Monday, wild card Javier Marti of Spain moved on with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Portugal's Frederico Gil. Marti will play third-seeded Fernando Verdasco, also from Spain, in the next round.

Brazil's Ricardo Mello and Spain's Pere Riba will play in Monday's third and final singles match with the winner advancing to face fourth-seeded Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci.

This week's No. 1 seed is defending champion Nicolas Almagro of Spain, who captured his second Brasil Open title last year.