Estoril Open 2006 News and Events

Marat Safin set up a second round encounter with No. 2 seed and 2003 champion Nikolay Davydenko at the Estoril Open on Tuesday.

Safin, the 2004 runner-up, was in devastating form on Court Central against Italian qualifier Fabio Fognini. The Russian, currently ranked No. 49 in the INDESIT ATP Rankings after injury hampered his 2005 season, triumphed 6-1, 6-4 in 71 minutes.

The 2000 US Open and 2004 Australian Open champion will meet compatriot Davydenko on Wednesday, in the marquee match of the second round.

Davydenko will be looking for revenge. The No. 2 seed has lost both meetings over Safin, each this year, at Dubai and ATP Masters Series Indian Wells.

Top-seeded David Nalbandian, who captured his first ATP title at Estoril in 2002, knocked out Nicolas Mahut of France 7-5, 7-5 in one hour and 49 minutes.

Former champion Carlos Moya booked his place in the second round beating Brazilian Flavia Saretta 6-3, 6-4.

Former World No. 1 Moya first came to the Portuguese tournament, some 15 kilometres from the centre of Lisbon, in 1996. This year, ranked No. 35 in the INDESIT ATP Rankings, he accepted a wild card.

In six previous appearances at the Estadio Nacional, the 29-year-old has a 17-5 record – with victory over 2000 over Francisco Clavet topping three other semifinal showings (1998, 2002 and 2005).

Sixth-seeded Moya won 79% of points on first serve, converting two of 11 break points for victory in one hour and 45 minutes.

Earlier in the day No. 4 seed Gael Monfils crushed Romanian Razvan Sabau 6-1, 6-2 in just 38 minutes on Centralito.

Dmitry Tursunov, who is writing a daily blog for the ATPtennis.com web site this week, beat 15-year-old lucky loser Gastao Elias 6-2, 6-1 and will next play another Portuguese native, Frederico Gil.

Meanwhile former World No. 6 Nicolas Lapentti, currently placed No. 127 in the INDESIT ATP Rankings struggled to overcome Polish qualifier Michal Przysiezny 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-4.

Local support has reason to cheer on day two, as Portugal’s Frederico Gil won a marathon match against Spain’s David Luque 1-6, 7-6(5), 6-4 in two hours and 34 minutes.