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Nalbandian through after sluggish start in Monaco

Argentina's David Nalbandian serves to his Italian opponent Federico Luzzi during their Monte Carlo ATP Masters Series match on Monday. PHOTO: AFP

Ninth-seeded David Nalbandian rallied to beat Italian qualifier Federico Luzzi of Italy 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 on Monday in the first round at the Monte Carlo Masters.

The Argentine dropped the opening four games of the match against the 133rd-ranked Luzzi.

"Earlier this month, I was playing the Davis Cup quarter-finals against Sweden on a very, very fast court," Nalbandian said. "I had to adapt to clay, which explains my slow start."

Also, No. 14 Marcos Baghdatis became the second seeded player to be knocked out after No. 15 Jarkko Nieminen lost to Marat Safin on Sunday, going down 7-5, 6-4 to Max Mirnyi.

Robin Soderling defeated Olivier Rochus 6-4, 6-4; Andreas Seppi topped Teimuraz Gabashvili 6-1, 6-3; Marc Gicquel beat Florian Mayer 7-5, 5-7, 7-5 and Kristof Vliegen ousted Paul-Henri Mathieu 7-5, 6-3.

No. 13 Mikhail Youzhny of Russia and No. 16 Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain also reached the second round.

Ferrero, the 2002 and 2003 champion, saved three breakpoints in the first set in a 7-5, 6-2 win over Tim Henman.

"It is always dangerous to play against Tim, but I played well today," Ferrero said. "It was a good match. I have fond memories of Monte Carlo."

Trailing 4-3 in the first set, Ferrero was 15-40 down and in need of luck to hold before eventually taking the set when Henman's drop shot bounced narrowly out.

"It's not easy playing the former French Open champion," Henman said, adding that he had only practised one hour before the match as he was feeling the effects of a sore back.

Youzhny was leading 6-2, 3-1 over 1998 French Open champion Carlos Moya when the Spaniard retired with an undisclosed injury. Moya had rubbed his thigh shortly before dropping out.

Gael Monfils of France pulled out with a sore hamstring when trailing 6-0, 2-0 to Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic and Argentina's Juan Ignacio Chela won 7-5, 6-2 against Martin Verkerk of the Netherlands.

Gaston Gaudio of Argentina saved 11 breakpoints in a 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 win over Dmitry Tursunov of Russia.
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