BUCHAREST, Romania, Sept. 12 (UPI) -- Defending champion Jose Acasuso of Argentina and Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu posted first-round wins Monday at the BCR Open Romania tennis event.
The sixth-seeded Acasuso erased fellow Argentine Juan Ignacio Chela 6-2, 6-4, while Mathieu came from behind to beat Spaniard David Sanchez 2-6, 6-2, 6-1.
The hard-hitting Acasuso defeated Russian Igor Andreev in last year's clay- court final at Arenele Progressul B.N.R.
In other opening-round play, Italian Davide Sanguinetti subdued Romanian crowd favorite Razvan Sabau 6-4, 6-3, German Florian Mayer mauled Spaniard Oscar Hernandez 6-2, 6-0 and Frenchman Florent Serra saved three match points in order to overcome Romanian Victor Crivoi 3-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-1.
The winner of this $400,000 tournament will earn $72,000. The top seed is French Open runner-up Mariano Puerta of Argentina.
