Tennis: Ferrer, Almagro win in Auckland

Heineken Open top seed David Ferrer. Photo / Greg Bowker

Top-seeded Spaniards David Ferrer and Nicolas Almagro opened their 2011 campaigns with hard-fought wins Wednesday to book places in the Heineken Open quarterfinals.

Ferrer, the world No. 7 and top seed, took more than 2-1/2 hours and exploited one of only two break point chances to beat Tobias Kamke of Germany 3-6, 7-6 (1), 6-4.

Almagro, ranked 14 and the No. 2 seed, was more comfortable but was still tested in beating 52nd-ranked Victor Hanescu of Romania 6-4, 7-6 (2) in 93 minutes. Both Ferrer and Almagro had byes in the first round and were playing for the first time this year.

Ferrer, who will play No. 8 seed Philipp Kohlschreiber in Thursday's quarterfinals, was fully stretched by the 24-year-old Kamke, ranked 67. With a first serve percentage of only 50 per cent and a dogged opponent who fought for every point, Ferrer was forced to produce his best tennis to start his season with a win.

"He played a very good game," Ferrer said. "I fought a lot. Maybe I was lacking on my first serve but I'm very happy to come back here and win my first game.

"It's not easy in the first match of the year and this match is good for my confidence."

Kamke took the first set in 35 minutes with the only service break in the sixth game. The second set went with serve - though both players were hard-pressed at times - until a tiebreak in which Ferrer allowed Kamke only a single point.

Games in the deciding set also went with serve until Ferrer broke in the ninth game, taking advantage of only his second break point of the match. He then closed out the match with his seventh ace.

Earlier, Almagro won the toss and elected to receive, putting immediate pressure on Hanescu's serve and gaining the only break of the first set. Hanescu led 40-0 but Almagro took the game to deuce and advantage, exploiting his only break point of the set.

Almagro continued to look strong into the second set, showing off an improved serve which produced five aces in his first five service games.

He controlled the match from the back of the court with the force of his groundstrokes, particularly his sweeping crosscourt forehand. But at 2-1 in the second set he played an unusually hesitant service game, dropped serve and trailed Hanescu until he was able to redeem the break in the seventh game.

The match went with serve until the tiebreak when Almagro's intensity lifted.

"Every match is important but the first one of the year is much more important than others and I played very good all the match," Almagro said. "The first set was one of my best sets for a long time."

No. 6 seed David Nalbandian, No. 7 seed Tomaz Bellucci and No. 8 seed Kohlschreiber all progressed to the quarterfinals but No. 4 seed Alberto Montanes was beaten 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 by Santiago Giraldo of Colombia.

Former world No. 3 Nalbandian was impressive, taking only 63 minutes to beat Philipp Petzschner of Germany 6, 6-2.

"Today I played great tennis, much better than my first match," Nalbandian said.

-AP