ATP News : 2005


Moya eases to second round

Madrid, (dpa) - Former champion Ferrero and Verdasco lost their opening matches against Mirnyi and Gonzalez.


Juan Carlos Ferrero lost ground in his race for a possible place in next month's Masters Cup when he went down in Tuesday's first round of the 2.1-million-euro Madrid Masters, where he won his last title two years ago.

The former world number 1 couldn't handle the pace of Belarus fast-court king Max Mirnyi, taking a 7-5, 7-6 (7-2) first-round defeat. The disappointment could spell the end of Ferrero's hopes for a place among the elite eight who will play in Shanghai at the season-ending event from November 13. The Spaniard stood 11th in the season points race, but with plenty of competition from players still alive in the Madrid tournament.

There was a brighter picture for Carlos Moya, a former Roland Garros champion like Ferrero. The 29-year-old put aside recent shoulder problems in a rout of
Italian Filippo Volandri, 6-1, 6-2.

"First rounds are never easy," said Moya. "Maybe this was easier than I expected. I hope to keep playing this way during the next matches. "My shoulder is going to be this way for the rest of this tournament. If the match is long, it does hurt a little bit. But for the moment, it doesn't hurt."



Sent News to a Friend:
From*
To*
Comments