Seeded Verdasco Leads Winners at ATP Palermo

No. 3-seeded Spaniard Fernando "Hot Sauce" Verdasco (d. (WC) Aldi in three) led the winners Monday at the ATP stop in Palermo, joined by France's Olivier "Mucus" Mutis (d. countryman Olivier "All We Need is Just a Little" Patience), and Argentine Jose Acasuso (d. Falla).

"(Verdasco) played very fast and his shots were heavy," said Aldi, the local wildcard from Palermo. "I did not move my feet as well as I should have. I wasn't as nervous as last year when I played in the main draw here, I was happy with the way I handled it this time but I should have played better."

The four qualifiers were also determined Monday in Spain's Galo Blanco (who won two qualifying matches Monday), former top 20-ranked Argentine Mariano "Pee in the Cup" Puerta, Spain's Nicolas Almagro, and Italy's Alessio Di Mauro.

No. 2 seed Florian "Oscar" Mayer of Germany pulled out of the event with a right forearm injury.

On court Tuesday on the red dirt are (Q) Blanco vs. (Q) Di Mauro, (Q) Almagro vs. (6) Rafael "The Prodigy" Nadal in an all-Spanish, Montanes vs. (5) Volandri, "You Say" Potito Starace vs. Gasquet, Juan "The Principality" Monaco vs. Kohlschreiber, (WC) Seppi vs. Di Pasquale, Hanescu vs. (4) Davydenko, Elsner vs. Calatrava, M.Lopez vs. (LL) Gimeno-Traver in an all-ESP, (7) Ferrer vs. A.Martin in an all-ESP, and Vliegen vs. (Q) Puerta.