Ferrero claims seed's scalp

Monte Carlo runner-up Hrbaty fought through

Juan Carlos Ferrero continued his good run of form with a 6-4 7-5 victory over 11th seed Nicolas Escude of France in the first round of the Barcelona Open on Tuesday.

Slovakia's Dominik Hrbaty, who lost the final in Monte Carlo to Cedric Pioline on Sunday, drew on reserves of strength to beat Sweden's Nicklas Kulti 7-6 4-6 7-5.

And fourth seed Marcelo Rios of Chile later survived two match points against Romanian Andrei Pavel to reach the third round with a 6-3 4-6 7-6 win.

Ferrero, a quarter-finalist in Monte Carlo last week, got the better of Escude in a disjointed match as both players struggled to final their rhythm.

I don't really want to look beyond the next match against Vicente but I'd love to win here.

Juan Carlos Ferrero

"It wasn't a great performance but I'm pleased to get through," the 20-year-old Spaniard said.

Ferrero, who beat Yevgeny Kafelnikov in straight sets in Spain's Davis Cup win over Russia earlier this month, is not ruling out a long run on the clay courts of Barcelona.

"I don't really want to look beyond the next match against Vicente but I'd love to win here," he said. "Why not?"

Compatriot Sergio Bruguera, only at the event because of a wild card invitation, was a surprise 6-1 6-1 winner over Roger Federer of Switzerland.

Bruguera, twice winner of the French Open, has not won an ATP Tour event since 1994 and is now ranked outside the top 100.

Another Spaniard, unseeded Carlos Moya, won an error-strewn contest against Frenchman Arnaud Clement 6-4 4-6 6-4 and now faces world number three Yevgeny Kafelnikov.

Hicham Arazi of Morocco, seeded 15, came through with few problems against Australian Richard Fromberg. He won 6-3 6-4.