Second-seeded world No. 7 Nikolay Davydenko
was an easy first-round winner Monday at the $2.98 million Valencia Open.
The Russian Davydenko drubbed Colombian qualifier Alejandro Falla 6-2, 6-1 on
the indoor hardcourts here. Davydenko advanced in a mere 61 minutes with the
help of five service breaks.
The host nation had a pair of winners on Day 1, as Albert Montanes beat
qualifier and fellow Spaniard Roberto Bautista-Agut 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 and
Guillermo Garcia-Lopez handled German Simon Greul 7-5, 6-2.
One other result saw 19th-ranked Czech Tomas Berdych blitz France's Paul-Henri
Mathieu 6-3, 6-4.
In addition to Davydenko, this week's star-studded field also includes top-
seeded Andy Murray, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Spanish slugger Fernando Verdasco,
the 2004 Valencia titlist. Murray will face Spanish wild card Daniel Gimeno-
Traver here on Tuesday.
David Ferrer beat Nicolas Almagro in last year's popular all-Spanish Valencia
final. Almagro was the reigning two-time champ here. Ferrer and Almagro will
meet in a rematch of last year's title tilt in an opening-rounder here on
Tuesday.
The 2009 Valencia winner will take home $475,000.
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