Stepanek, Gulbis open with wins at Madrid

Oct 12, 2008 - 4:26 PM MADRID (Ticker) -- Radek Stepanek and Ernests Gulbis are both through to the second round of the $3 million Mutua Madrilena Masters.

On Sunday, Stepanek of Czechoslovakia defeated Juan Monaco of Argentina, 6-1, 6-1, in the first round at this hardcourt event to set up a second round meeting with second-seeded Roger Federer of Switzerland.

Gulbis also has an unenviable task awaiting him in the second round. After beating German Nicolas Kiefer, 5-7, 6-4, 7-5, the Latvian next takes on top-seeded Rafael Nadal of Spain.

The star-studded field of this event features every player in the Top 30. There are also four former winners in the draw, led by defending champion David Nalbandian, World No. 2 Federer, World No. 1 Nadal and wild card Marat Safin. The top 16 seeds received first-round byes.

Nadal is playing in his first tournament since reaching the semifinals at the US Open last month where he lost to Great Britain's Andy Murray. But the Mallorca native did appear in the Davis Cup semifinals three weeks ago, leading his country to the final with wins over Americans Sam Querrey and Andy Roddick.

The 22-year-old left-hander could wrap up the year-end No. 1 ranking in Madrid, depending on his and Federer's results. Nadal, who enters with an ATP-best 77-9 match record and eight titles.

In the last quarter of the draw, No. 2 Federer attempts to win his first ATP Masters Series title of the year. He is is 14-3 lifetime in Madrid, winning two years ago and reaching the final last year, where he lost to Nalbandian.

First prize is nearly $487,000.