Madrid Masters (2nd Round)

Nadal, Gasquet Battle Into 3rd Rd.

Spaniard Rafael Nadal averted an upset in his first ATP Masters Series match as the World No. 1, coming through a two hour, 21 minute challenge against Latvian Ernests Gulbis 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 on Tuesday at the Mutua Madrilena Masters Madrid.

The 22-year-old Nadal, who received his ATP No. 1 Ranking trophy on Sunday, saved one break point at 1-all of the third set against his 20-year-old opponent. He then capitalized on triple break chance in the next game, and proceeded to hold serve through the remainder of the second round match.



"The entire match was very tough," said Nadal. "He played very aggressive. You can't get the rhythm during the whole match. His balls were coming very fast; you go behind the line and it's difficult to come back inside. When he's serving, his second serve is very fast too, so it's very difficult."

Nadal is making his sixth straight appearance in Madrid, and improves to an 11-4 event record. He won the 2005 title (d. Ljubicic), and was a quarterfinalist the past two years, falling to Tomas Berdych in '06 and to eventual champion David Nalbandian last year.

The Mallorcan takes a 5-0 head-to-head record into his next match against French No. 15 seed Richard Gasquet (pictured). The two most recently played in July in the ATP Masters Series Toronto quarterfinals. Head-to-head: Nadal vs Gasquet

Nadal said: "He´s a very talented player. It's going to be very difficult. I'll see if I can play at my best level because that's the only way that I´ll be able to win."

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Gasquet was also extended to three sets in his second round match before prevailing 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-3 against American Mardy Fish. The 26-year-old Fish, playing in his first tournament since his wedding on September 28, fired 23 aces to Gasquet's nine but was unable to convert on his four break point opportunities. Meanwhile, Gasquet broke Fish three times in the final two sets to secure the victory in two hours and 31 minutes.

The Frenchman, 22, advances to the Madrid third round for the first time in three event appearances. Gasquet is a two-time ATP Masters Series runner-up, falling to Roger Federer in the 2005 Hamburg and 2006 Toronto finals. He improves to a 31-20 season record, highlighted by a runner-up finish at Stuttgart (l. to del Potro).

In the final match Tuesday, Feliciano Lopez defeated fellow Spaniard Albert Montanes 7-6(4), 6-3 to reach the second round. He next goes on to face another countryman, World No. 5 David Ferrer, against whom he has a 4-2 record. They also met in the second round last year in Madrid, with Lopez winning in straight sets. Head-to-head: Lopez vs Ferrer