David Nalbandian makes smooth progress at Copa Claro

February 18, 2011 - 20:05 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - At 2011 Copa Claro Tennis Tournament, third seed David Nalbandian made smooth progress at his home country tournament, dismissing fellow Argentine Juan Pablo Brzezicki 6-1, 6-2 in 68 minutes. Though he dropped serve twice, Nalbandian broke his 196th-ranked countryman seven times from 14 chances.

“I did almost everything perfectly, it was a great match,” said the former World No. 3. “I didn’t have to run or defend too much. Some matches you can do more things depending on what your rival does, but the idea is to keep up this tennis.”

Nalbandian, 29, has now won 12 of his past 13 matches in Buenos Aires. He captured the title in 2008 (d. Acasuso), reached the semi-finals in ’09 (l. to Monaco) and withdrew ahead of his quarter-final match against Albert Montanes last year with a right adductor injury.

The Argentine will next face another past champion, 2009 winner Tommy Robredo, who defeated Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-3, 7-5 in an all-Spanish second-round match. The sixth-seeded Robredo is unbeaten in seven matches at this tournament.

Nalbandian leads Robredo 6-2 in their head-to-head series, including wins in their past three meetings, and said: “I need to play like this again, I’m feeling very good. I know Robredo well, we’ve played a few times in the circuit and also before in juniors. I know I have to be aggressive and continue this level,” ATP World Tour quoted him as saying.