Vina del Mar, Chile (Sports Network) - Former finalist Santiago Giraldo posted
a first-round victory Monday at the $410,000 VTR Open.
The Colombian Giraldo came from behind to beat Argentine Martin Alund, 4-6,
7-5, 6-3, in just over two hours on the red clay at Club Naval de Campo Las
Salinas.
Giraldo was the runner-up at this event two years ago in Santiago.
The top seeds here are former world No. 1 star Rafael Nadal and reigning
champion Juan Monaco, who is Nadal's doubles partner this week. Both players
received opening-round byes.
Nadal will play his first tennis since last June after being sidelined with a
knee injury. The Spanish great, who owns 11 Grand Slam titles, including a
record seven French Open championships in the Open Era, will appear in a South
American tournament for the first time since 2005, when he won a title in
Brazil as a spry 18-year-old.
Monaco beat Carlos Berlocq in last year's all-Argentine Vina del Mar finale
and was the runner-up at this event in 2008 and 2010.
Vina del Mar kicks off the "Golden Swing" portion of the ATP calendar in Latin
America.
This week's winner will collect $74,000.
The Sports Network