Robredo advances in Pilot Pen tournament

NEW HAVEN, Conn., Aug. 20 (UPI) -- No. 2-seeded Tommy Robredo claimed a straight-set victory Monday in the second round of the $650,000 Pilot Pen tennis tournament in Connecticut.

Robredo was a 6-4, 6-4 winner over Marc Gicquel in the first day of action at the final hardcourt tune-up before the U.S. Open. Robredo and the other seeded players were given byes into second-round play.

There were still several first-round matches Monday, including Vincent Spadea's 6-2, 5-7, 7-5 win over Evgeny Korolev and Julien Benneteau's solid 6-2, 6-2 showing over Oscar Hernandez.

Also winning Monday were Luis Horna and Albert Montanes.

World No. 4 Nikolay Davydenko, who beat Agustin Calleri to win the New Haven event last year, is the top seed this week. He opens his tournament Tuesday against Donald Young.

The Pilot Pen tournament winner will collect $84,000.