BUENOS AIRES, Feb. 15 (UPI) -- Nicolas Almagro continued his hot play Tuesday, following up his victory in the Brazil Open last week with a first-round win at the Copa Claro.
The top-seeded Almagro, who defeated Alexandr Dolgopolov Sunday for the Brazil title, had little trouble with Argentine qualifier Pablo Galdon in a 6-1, 6-2 victory Tuesday at the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club.
Second-seeded Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland, meanwhile, toughed out a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 victory over Argentine Carlos Berlocq in another first-round match.
Also notching a win was No. 3 seed David Nalbandian, a former Copa Claro champion, who blew past Italian Potito Starace in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4.
Argentina's Jose Acasuso assured there would be no second straight final involving the seventh-seeded Dolgopolov when he downed the Ukrainian 6-2, 6-4.
