Top-seeded Rafael Nadal finally appeared on court at the China Open and subdued Taiwan's Wang Yeu-tzuoo (
Nadal's first match since his third-round defeat at the US Open was delayed two days because Wang was completing business in Turkey.
The Spaniard appeared eager to make up for lost time, sprinting 4-0 ahead, and breaking Wang five times to set up a second-round encounter against Justin Gimelstob of the US.
"I don't think I played a great match, not bad either," Nadal said. "I started strongly and then my level went down a bit but I'm happy as I'm playing and practicing better than I was last week after I lost to [James] Blake at the US Open. If I continue like this I will have good results."
Nadal's countrymen Juan Carlos Ferrero and Carlos Moya also advanced, along with seeds No. 3 David Nalbandian and No. 4 Thomas Johansson.
Ferrero beat Dmitry Tursunov 6-4, 7-6 (4), withstanding 15 aces by the Russian, and saving eight of 10 break points.
"I'm on the right track but there are a lot of great players in this tournament," said sixth-seeded Ferrero, who faces Nalbandian in the quarterfinals.
Nalbandian cruised to a 6-4, 6-0 victory over Israeli qualifier Amir Hadad, winning the last eight games to wrap up the second-round match in 50 minutes.
"The next match will be different," Nalbandian said of Ferrero," and I think both of us have the same chance to win."
Eighth-seeded Moya had to rally to beat Austria's Stefan Koubek 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, and draw a quarterfinal against Johansson, who cruised past US Open quarterfinalist Jarkko Nieminen of Finland 6-4, 6-4.
Persistent rain yesterday washed out all matches on the fourth day of the tournament.
"We are sorry to inform you that because of the weather, the chief referee has decided the day's matches will be postponed," organizers said in a notice before also canceling the night match.
The wash out means Nadal must wait at least another day before he has a chance to qualify for the third round. The Spaniard was to have met Gimelstob in yesterday's late match.
Romanian Open
Top-seeded Mariano Puerta of Argentina advanced to the BCR Open quarterfinals on Wednesday, beating Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain 6-2, 6-4.
"Now I have one day off to practice and then I can attack fully in the quarterfinals," Puerta said.
His last-eight opponent will be Igor Andreev, after the Russian beat Spain's Albert Montanes 6-2, 6-2.
Second-seeded Filippo Volandri of Italy was upset by Florent Serra 1-6, 6-4, 6-3.
The Frenchman reached his first ATP quarterfinals, having completed successive wins for the first time on the main tour.
"It's one of my biggest victories on clay," Serra said. "It was very difficult in the beginning because I was too far behind the baseline. I tried to change things in the second set moving up in the court, and to put more pressure on. I will try to continue doing that."
Serra was a set and 2-0 down before his comeback against Volandri, a four-time semifinalist on tour this year. Serra won nine of the next 11 games to lead 3-0 in the final set.
He'll next face countryman and No. 7-seeded Paul-Henri Mathieu, who defeated qualifier Albert Portas of Spain 6-2, 6-0.
On facing Mathieu, Serra said: "He's a friend, so we have known each other for many years. It's a very interesting match for both of us. It will be fun."
Mathieu won their only previous match in Metz, France last year.
In a first-round match, Olivier Marach of Austria topped Mariusz Fyrstenberg of Poland 6-4, 6-4, and will meet third-seeded Andrei Pavel of Romania.
Wismilak International
Top-seeded Lindsay Davenport began her bid for a fourth title this season by beating Rika Fujiwara of Japan 6-3, 6-2 to reach the quarterfinals of the Wismilak International on Wednesday.
Davenport, who had a first-round bye, saved break points at 3-1 and 5-3 to win the opening set, then broke Fujiwara twice in the second set.
"I did not play my best and know I have to get better, but typically I tend to get better as the tournament goes on," Davenport said.
Davenport will meet either Maria Elena Camerin of Italy or Ekaterina Bychkova of Russia next.
Also into the last eight were fourth-seeded Francesca Schiavone of Italy, who routed Laura Pous Tio of Spain, 6-3, 6-2, and seventh-seeded Na Li of China, who put away compatriot Zi Yan 6-3, 6-4.
US Open doubles finalist Flavia Pennetta of Italy swept aside German qualifier Martina Muller 6-3, 6-1 in the remaining first-round match.
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