Madrid - Argentine Davis Cup teammates David Nalbandian and Juan Del Potro set up a repeat of their grudge match from a year ago at the Madrid Masters as both advanced into the third round on Wednesday. Holder Nalbandian, who is trying to back up a superlative indoor season from 2007 when he lifted both the Madrid and Paris Bercy Masters crowns, opened his title defence over Tomas Berdych 6-2, 6-7 (5-7), 6-1.
Del Potro, seeded ninth and the form player of the summer with four titles, advanced as injured Finn Jarkko Nieminen quit with a thigh strain to hand over a 6-2, 4-2 victory.
Third seed Novak Djokovic had a close call, with Romanian Victor Hanescu threatening before quitting injured, 6-7 (8-10). 7-6 (10-8), 3-1.
Del Potro, fighting for one of the last four spots in next month's season wrap-up Masters Cup in Shanghai, said he was pleased to have an east afternoon after quitting last week in Vienna with a toenail problem, now cured.
"I lost against David here in Madrid. He had a great level and my level was good too. But I'm even better this year and it will be a difficult match, It's always difficult to play against him, but I have faith in myself and Ill try to do my best."
Against Berdych, seventh seed Nalbandian fired nine aces and produced 32 winners in a shade under two hours.
American qualifier Robby Ginepri, a semi-finalist three years ago, upset Nikolay Davydenko advancing 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 as the Russian failed to get traction after a Moscow quarter-final.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, January's Australian Open finalist against Djokovic, fought back to overcome Spaniard Marcel Granollers 3-6, 6- 3, 7-6 (7/5).
Tsonga is playing only his third event since returning from knee surgery in May, and proved the point as he won Bangkok last month.
The Frenchman said that he has nothing to prove and is only concentrating on winning his matches - few as they may be in 2008.
"I have only played 10 or 11 events and I'm ranked 15th in the world - what would have happened had I been healthy and played 20?
"All I want to do is to play my tennis and try to do the best possible on the court."
Gael Monfils got another win for France, beating 12th seed Fernando Gonzalez 6-3, 6-4. Croatian 14th seed Ivo Karlovic rained down 24 aces in a show of force to stop Swede Robin Soderling 7-6 (9- 7), 7-6 (10-8).
