Andujar gives Spain early success in Valencia Open

MADRID – The Valencia Open 500 began with the first game of the main draw on Sunday evening when Pablo Andujar beat Juan Ignacio Chela 6-0, 7-6 (9/7) in 1 hour 25 minutes.

Spaniard Andujar, ranked 46 in the world, raced into a one set lead without dropping a game against an out of sorts Chela, who is ranked 18 rungs ahead of him.

The second set went with serve until Andujar broke at 3-3, only for Chela to break back when 5-4 down and staring defeat in the face.

The set went to a tie-break which the Spaniard eventually won after Chela had saved two match points.

The win puts Andujar into the last 16 where he could face 3rd seed Gael Monfils if the Frenchmen can overcome another Spaniard in Albert Montanes.

The Spanish-Argentine meeting was the first of a number that could occur this week, just over a month before the two countries meet in the Davis Cup Final in Seville on December 2nd-4th.

Although Andujar will not feature in the Spanish team the defeated Chela is likely to be in Seville, and, depending on the hamstring injury of David Nalbandian, could be designated one of the singles players for the Argentine team.

The outstanding match of the first round in Valencia sees defending champion and number one seed David Ferrer meet compatriot and fellow Davis Cup player Fernando Verdasco.

Commenting on the pairing Ferrer said:

“I will try my hardest to win. I would rather have played him later in the tournament, but this is proof that tennis fans can watch quality matches from day one.”

The draw also throws up the possibility of a quarter-final clash between Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Juan Martin del Potro, after their clash on Sunday in the final of the Vienna Open, where Frenchmen Tsonga was victorious in three sets.