Top-seed Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic opened his campaign in the 450,000-dollar ATP Chennai Open with a fluent win over Frederico Gil of Portugal on Tuesday. The world number six needed just 45 minutes to defeat the 101st-ranked Gil 6-0, 6-1 in a first round match at the Nungambakkam Tennis stadium in the southern Indian city. Gil was facing a total rout when he trailed 5-0 in the second set, but managed to hold his serve at that stage to win his only game in the match.
"It was important to start well in the new season and I am happy I was able to do that tonight," said 25-year-old Berdych. Berdych led a march of the seeded players on the second day after two-time defending champion Marin Cilic of Croatia was knocked out by Japan's rising star Kei Nishikori on Monday.
Fourth-seed Richard Gasquet of France, ranked 30th in the world, toyed with compatriot Edouard Roger-Vasselin 6-1, 6-3 to reach the second round. The Frenchman next plays Bjorn Phau of Germany for a place in the quarter-finals. Seventh-seed Xavier Malisse of Belgium, who won the Chennai event in 2007, disposed off Marsel Ilhan of Turkey 6-3, 6-1 in another match. Qualifier Alexandre Kudryavtsev of Russia also moved into the second round with an easy 6-2, 6-1 win over Indian wild card Yuki Bhambri.
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