Rotterdam, The Netherlands (Sports Network) - Last year's runner-up Juan
Martin del Potro was an easy opening-round winner Tuesday at the $1.7 million
ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament.
The second-seeded former U.S. Open champion cruised past oft-injured Frenchman
Gael Monfils 6-3, 6-4 in 71 minutes on the indoor hardcourts at Ahoy
Rotterdam. Del Potro broke Monfils twice and was not broken on Day 2.
The tall Argentine del Potro will face capable Latvian Ernests Gulbis in his
next outing.
Also on Day 2, Dutchman Thiemo de Bakker beat Russian Mikhail Youzhny 3-6, 7-6
(7-2), 4-1, retired; Frenchman Julien Benneteau doused German Tobias Kamke
6-3, 6-2; and Gulbis took out Dutchman Robin Haase 6-2, 6-1.
This week's top seed is the great Roger Federer. The reigning Rotterdam champ
will open his stay here against Slovenian Grega Zemlja on Wednesday. The 17-
time major champion and reigning Wimbledon titlist beat del Potro in last
year's marquee finale and also titled in Rotterdam in 2005.
The Sports Network