Nadal wins,Baghdatis loses in Chennai

CHENNAI, India, Jan. 1 (UPI) -- World No. 2 star Rafael Nadal won his first match of 2008 but second-seeded Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis was a first-round loser at the Chennai Open.

Nadal, reigning three-time French Open champion and two-time Wimbledon runner-up, beat France's Mathieu Montcourt 6-2, 6-4.

In the seond round, top-seeded Nadal will meet American Rajeev Ram, who beat Russian Yuri Schukin 7-6 (8-6), 7-6 (7-2).

Former Australian Open runner-up Baghdatis lost to Dutchman Robin Haase 6-3, 6-4.

In other action, No. 3 Spaniard Carlos Moya beat Russian Teimuraz Gabashvili 6-4, 6-1; No. 5 Frenchman Nicolas Mahut beat German Denis Gremelmayr 6-3, 6-3; and No. 7 Austrian Werner Eschauer beat Spaniard Bartolome Salva-Vidal 7-6 (7-3), 5-7, 6-4.

Moya won this tournament in 2004 and 2005 and was the runner-up in 2006.