Nadal, Agassi Win, Gasquet Outed at ATP Montreal

Scoring one for the older generation, Frenchman Sebastien Grosjean came back from 2-5 in the first set and weathered the rain delays Wednesday at the ATP Masters Series-Canada to defeat countryman Richard Gasquet 7-6(4), 6-3 to advance to the third round in Montreal.

The win averted another much-anticipated meeting between Gasquet and top seed Rafael Nadal, who Grosjean will now face.

"Sebastien has much more experience than I do playing after a (rain) delay," Gasquet said. "This is the first time on the circuit that I've played under reflectors (lights). I didn't adapt well and I didn't hit hard enough on this surface. I played well and in the end, I'd rather lose to a compatriot than an unknown. I'll have other opportunities to play against him."

The two other upset victims Wednesday were (9) David Nalbandian who was ousted in three by Slovak Karol Beck, and (12) Thomas Johansson who was edged 7-5, 7-6(4) by Xavier Malisse.

Seeded winners toughing it out on the day were (1) Rafael Nadal (d. Mello), (4) Andre Agassi (d. Bjorkman in three), (5) Nikolay Davydenko (d. Berdych from a set down), (6) Gaston Gaudio (d. Carlsen from a set down), (8) Mariano Puerta (d. Pavel from a set down), and (11) Tommy Robredo (d. El Aynaoui in two tiebreaks).

Unseeded winners into the third round were German Nicolas Kiefer (d. Dent), Brit Greg Rusedski (d. Mirnyi from a set down), Croat Mario Ancic (d. (Q) Serra in three), Paul-Henri Mathieu following up his win over Andy Roddick with an all-countryman victory (d. (Q) Clement in three), former No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero (d. Ferrer in three), Slovak Dominik Hrbaty (d. Novak, bagel in the third), and Belgian Olivier Rochus (d. Soderling, who retired in the third with injury).

Scheduled for Thursday in Montreal are "Grinning" Greg Rusedski vs. Mario "Baby Goran" Ancic, (1) Rafael "The Prodigy" Nadal vs. Grosjean, Kiefer vs. (4) Agassi, Mathieu vs. Olivier "The Roach" Rochus, (6) Gaudio vs. (11) Robredo, Ferrero vs. Dominik "The Dominator" Hrbaty, Beck vs. (5) Davydenko, Xavier "X-Man" Malisse vs. (8) Puerta, and in doubles highlights, Spaniards Nadal/Robredo vs. Americans (2) Bryan/Bryan.