Nadal struggles into second round at Hamburg

FORMER world top seed Rafael Nadal struggled yesterday, losing the first of three sets before getting past his Spanish compatriot Fernando Verdasco into the second round at the US $1.5million (RM5.7m) ATP World Tour in Hamburg.

The 29-year-old managed to break through after 1 hour and 56 minutes with two decisive final sets, winning 36, 6-1, 6-1.

Meanwhile, German hopeful Philipp Kohlschreiber crashed out in the first round 3-6, 6-3, 1-6 against Frenchman Benoit Paire.

It was Kohlschreiber’s fifth firstround defeat in 11 appearances in Germany’s second-largest city.

Paire won his first ATP World Tour title just two days ago against Spain’s Tommy Robredo in the Swedish town of Bastad. Robredo faces Hamburg local Alexander Zverev while fellow German Florian Mayer has made it through to the last 16 and will face Italy’s Andreas Seppi.

Nadal (pix) is now 12-2 at the tournament, having only lost to Federer in 2007 and to former Roland Garros champion Gaston Gaudio in 2003.

There was good news for British No 2 Aljaz Bedene who beat Daniel Gimeno-Traver 6-4, 6-1 to advance through to the next round where he will meet third-seeded Roberto Bautista Agut.

The Slovenian-born British player, who reached the second round exit at Wimbledon, was playing on the dirt for the second week following his exit to Croatian teenager Borna Coric in Umag.

Fourth-seeded Italian Andreas Seppi also tasted success yesterday, beating Martin Klizan 6-2, 6-4, while sixth seed Juan Monaco of Argentina overcame Ernests Gulbis 6-3, 67 (5-7), 6-3 in a testing opener for the 2012 champion.

It was not such a good day for seventh seed Guillermo GarciaLopez, though, as the Spaniard was forced to retire when 2-1 up in the first set against countryman Jaume Munar due to a leg injury.