Federer, Nadal advance in Olympic tennis

BEIJING, Aug. 11 (UPI) -- Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, perhaps headed for another championship confrontation, advanced Monday in the Olympic tennis tournament.

Federer, hoping to win a gold medal for Switzerland in his third Olympics, defeated Dmitry Tursunov of Russia 6-4, 6-2. Nadal, from Spain, had a more difficult time than expected in eliminating Italian Potito Starace 6-2, 3-6, 6-2.

"This tournament is the one I base my year around so I hope I can play well here," Federer said. "It would mean as much as winning a Grand Slam. I've won so many Grand Slams and the Olympics only comes around every four years. I love playing for my country, so this is a great start."

Nadal, who will replace Federer as No. 1 in the world next week thanks in part to a victory over his rival at Wimbledon, is making his Olympic debut.

Americans Serena and Venus Williams also won their Olympic openers Monday. Serena breezed past Olga Govortsova of Belarus 6-3, 6-1. Venus was a 6-3, 6-2 winner over Timea Bacsinszky.

The tournament ran behind schedule Monday because of heavy rains that forced postponement Sunday of all but nine matches.

In the men's bracket, defending champion Nicolas Massu of Chile defeated Steve Darcis of Belgium 6-4, 7-5.