Estoril Open 2007 News and Events

Alberto Martin
© João Lagos Sports

The top three seeds stand within one win of a place in the main draw of the Estoril Open, after opening round wins on Saturday.

Spaniard Feliciano Lopez, who once ranked a career-high No. 20 (January 31, 2005), booked his place in the second round with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Gero Kretschmer of Germany in just 55 minutes.

He will next meet Frenchman Olivier Patience, who last played an ATP-level tournament in Costa do Sauipe in February this year, knocked out Yuri Schukin of Russia 6-2, 6-4 in 74 minutes.

Meanwhile, Spanish 29-year-old Alberto Martin (pictured) beat Fabio Fognini of Italy 2-6, 6-1, 6-2 in one hour and 53 minutes.

Martin, who has a 1-4 record in the Estoril main draw, will next meet Serbian Dusan Vemic – a 6-3, 6-3 winner over Gorka Fraile of Spain.

Columbian Alejandro Falla, currently No. 98 in the ATP Rankings, edged past Portuguese wild card Leonardo Tavares 6-7(4), 7-5, 6-2.

Portuguese wild card Gastao Elias was knocked out by Mathieu Montcourt of France 6-4, 6-1 in one hour and 23 minutes. Elias battled through qualifying last year and lost to Dmitry Tursunov in the first round.

TOP SEEDS FALL IN WOMEN’S QUALIFYING

The top seed in the women’s qualification tournament was not so fortunate.

Czech Iveta Benesova, currently No. 80 in the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Rankings, was knocked out by Conchita Martinez Granados of Spain 7-5, 7-6(1).

Portugal’s Catarina Ferreira defeated No. 2 seed Youlia Fedossova 6-2, 6-2, while German Greta Arn edged No. 8 seed Pauline Parmentier of France 7-5, 6-2.

Third-seeded Lara Pous Tio, No. 4 seed Renata Voracova, No. 5 seed Kristina Barrois and No. 7 seed Sara Errani won through to the second round.