Gaudio Survives Match Point in Opener at ATP Estoril

Defending French Open Gaston Gaudio, already reeling from being fed a bagel this claycourt season by wunderkind Rafael Nadal, was almost dealt another blow to his dirt psyche Monday in Estoril where the No. 2-seeded Argentine was forced to fight off a match point in a 6-7(5), 7-5, 6-0 win over unhearalded Czech Jan Hernych.

"The first match at a tournament is always difficult," Gaudio said. "But being so close to losing, I'm really happy I was able to turn around the match. I had only seen him play once at the Australian Open and I didn't think he could play that well on clay. I didn't play my best tennis, the conditions weren't easy as it was really windy."

Other winners into the second round Monday were Spaniards Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (d. Karlovic) and Santiago Ventura (d. Muller from a set down), and Czech Michal Tabara (d. Berdych from a set down 6-1 in the third).

The final round of qualifying was also completed Monday, with four more into the main draw in Frank Condor (ESP), Tomas Cakl (CZE), Galo Blanco (ESP), and Frantisek Cermak (CZE).

On tap for Tuesday in Estoril are (1) Moya vs. Mantilla in an all-Spanish, the unseeded former No. 1 Ferrero vs. Marcos "Bombs Over" Baghdatis, Costa vs. (5) Massu in an all-grinder, (WC) MacHado vs. Calleri, Calatrava vs. (3) Joachim "The Jackhammer" Johansson, (8) Feliciano "F-Lo" Lopez vs. former French runner-up (WC) Alex "Hold My Retirement Party Already" Corretja in an all-Spanish, Mathieu vs. (7) Novak, Juan Ignacio "The Spitting Snake" Chela vs. (LL) Marin, Sanguinetti vs. (Q) Condor, (4) Robredo vs. (Q) Cermak, (Q) Cakl vs. Carlsen, and (Q) "Julio &" Galo Blanco vs. Montanes in an all-Spanish.