VALENCIA, Spain (AP) — Top-seeded David Ferrer powered his way past Andreas Seppi 6-3, 7-5 to reach the second round of the Valencia Open on Wednesday.
The Spaniard’s consistent first-serve accuracy and powerful forehand returns proved too strong for his Italian opponent.
Ferrer will play countryman Fernando Verdasco next.
Earlier, Pablo Andujar caused the first major upset of the tournament by defeating second-seeded Tomas Berdych.
Andujar, whose hometown is Valencia, downed the Czech player 6-3, 6-2 in 72 minutes, three days after Berdych had won the Stockholm Open, his 10th ATP title.
“It was a very special match for me, here in Valencia, with my friends and family cheering me on,” Andujar said. “I tried to be as solid as I could, then when I had a chance I tried to hit the ball as hard as I could because I know Tomas is more powerful than me. Had I returned tame balls, he would have destroyed me.”
Third-seeded Andy Murray overcame early problems with his first serve to beat Jurgen Melzer of Austria 6-3, 6-3, with coach Amelie Mauresmo watching from the stands.
Murray, who won this tournament in 2009 and claimed his 30th tour title when he rallied to defeat Ferrer at the Erste Bank Open in Vienna on Sunday, hit 10 aces past Melzer.
He will play Fabio Fognini of Italy in the second round.
Pablo Carreno Busta, who entered on a wildcard and is 10 years younger than fourth-seeded Feliciano Lopez, took just 65 minutes to defeat his 33-year-old Spanish compatriot 6-4, 6-4.
Brazil’s Tomas Bellucci beat Mikhail Youzhny 7-5, 6-3 and will next face Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain, who defeated Santiago Giraldo 6-4, 6-4.
In a late match, Spain’s Tommy Robredo beat Yen-Hsun Lu of Taiwan 6-2, 6-4.
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