Buenos Aires ATP Feb. 19
Top Players:
1. David Nalbandian
2. Nicolas Almagro
3. Tommy Robredo
4. Carlos Moya
5. Jose Acasuso
6. Alberto Montanes
7. Marcel Granollers
8. Eduardo Schwank
(cut: Brian Dabul – 100)

Underdog Pick: Nicolas Massu
My pick: Tommy Robredo

Notable first and second round match results:

Nalbandian d. ——– his first two rounds of no-namers fairly easily

Ferrero d. (7)Granollers 6-7(7) 6-0 6-3

M. Gonzalaz d. (4)Moya 6-4 6-4

Vassallo-Arguello d. (6)Montanes 6-2 6-3

(3)Robredo d. Storace and Chela both in 3 sets

Hernandez d. (2)Almagro 6-2 1-6 6-3

Cuevas knocked out (8)Schwank

Junqueira d. Massu 3-6 6-4 6-4

Clearly being a seed in this tournament isn’t meaning much. Only 3 seeds standing and not even all of the second round results are in. My boy Robredo is still standing but after winning Brasil last week and a couple tough 3 setters to start here I’m wondering if he can keep it up physically.

Very disappointing start to the year for Moya, bounced by Maximo (not Fernando) Gonzalez this tournament is just another rough result on top of a very rocky start to ’09. Sooner or later it’s time to stop seeding him, though I hate to say it.

Needless to say Ferrero over Granollers isn’t much of an upset, as you all know JC Ferrero and probably don’t know Marcel Granollers. Interestingly Marcel took about 5 years to travel from unranked into the top 50, which for him was a long but steady trek. Often if players have the capabilities to get top 50 they are there within a couple years… not 6. Well done Marcel on fighting the good fight for so long and making it!