BARCELONA — Marcel Granollers will play Rafael Nadal in the second round of the Barcelona Open after defeating Daniel Munoz de la Nava 6-4, 6-3 Tuesday.
The 50th-ranked Granollers had 10 aces on his way to victory over his fellow Spaniard to set up the match against title favorite Nadal.
Second-seeded Kei Nishikori, the defending champion at the clay-court tournament, opens Wednesday.
Nadal, who won the Monte Carlo Masters last week, is trying to win the Barcelona Open for the ninth time.
Earlier Tuesday, 11th-seeded Alexandr Dolgopolov of Ukraine rallied to defeat Evgeny Donskoy of Russia 4-6, 7-6 (9), 6-4 in the second round, while Mikhail Youzhny of Russia beat Rajeev Ram of the United States 6-2, 6-2 in a first-round match.
Baghdatis eliminated
In Romania, fifth-seeded Marcos Baghdatis was eliminated in the first round of the Nastase Tiriac Trophy Tuesday, losing to unseeded Marco Cecchinato of Italy 6-2, 6-4.
Baghdatis wasted all four of his break points and was broken three times. Cecchinato will face Damir Dzumhur of Bosnia in the second round.
Also, seventh-seeded Paolo Lorenzi defeated Diego Schwartzman 6-3, 6-4, Daniel Gimeno-Traver beat Adrian Mannarino 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, Lucas Pouille beat Dusan Lajovic 6-3, 6-4 and Robin Haase overcame Italian qualifier Andrea Arnaboldi 7-6 (4), 6-4.
Kvitova advances
In Germany, two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova swept past qualifier Luisa Chirico 6-0, 6-0 Tuesday to reach the second round of the WTA Porsche Cup.
The fifth-seeded Kvitova needed only 55 minutes to dismiss the American, winning 17 of 19 first-serve points. The Czech also faced only one break point.
Two Germans also advanced to the second round of the indoor clay tournament with straight-set wins.
Annika Beck beat "lucky loser" Camila Giorgi 6-4, 6-2 and qualifier Laura Siegemund defeated Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia 6-0, 7-5, coming back from a break down in the second set.
Giorgi had replaced Italian countrywoman Sara Errani, who pulled out with a right-leg injury.
