(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-01-02 15:22

CHENNAI, India - Spanish world number two Rafael Nadal overcame late resistance to reach the ATP Chennai Open second round on Tuesday but second-seeded Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis was knocked out.

Rafael Nadal of Spain returns a shot to Mathieu Montcourt of France during their match at the Chennai Open tennis tournament in southern India January 1, 2008. Nadal overcame late resistance to reach the Chennai Open second round on Tuesday, but second-seeded Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis made an early exit. [Agencies]

Top seed Nadal defeated Mathieu Montcourt 6-2 6-4 after the tenacious French baseliner broke his serve and engaged him in long rallies in the final stages.

Baghdatis, world number 16 and a 2006 Australian Open finalist, went down 6-3 6-4 to unseeded Dutchman Robin Haase, leaving his preparations for the year's first grand slam in tatters.

Eighth seed Marc Gicquel of France also lost, going down 7-6 6-4 to Kristof Vliegen of Belgium.

Montcourt, 22, featuring in the main draw of an ATP event only for the sixth time, grew in confidence in the final stages against French Open champion Nadal, who lost in the doubles first round on Monday.

"In the end I had to play better to finish the match," Nadal told reporters. "He fought a lot and I made some mistakes."

He next faces qualifier Rajeev Ram, an American player of Indian origin, who defeated Russian Yuri Schukin 7-6 7-6.

STUNNING FOREHAND

Baghdatis failed to find his rhythm against Haase, who used his height advantage, a stunning forehand and drop shot to great effect.

The 22-year-old Cypriot produced a last-gasp effort by saving five matchpoints in the marathon final game before losing. The Dutch number one, who is ranked a modest 114 in the world, took a set off Baghdatis in last year's Canadian Masters first round.

"I don't know what to say," said a dejected Baghdatis who was using the event as preparation for the Australian Open, which starts on January 14.

"I tried things that didn't work. He was serving very well. He had nothing to lose and he was confident."

Haase, 20, said: "He is a great player but it also gives you the chance to play great. Today, I didn't play the game he likes. He wasn't at his best and I took advantage."

Haase broke Baghdatis's serve in the second game to go up 4-1 before claiming the first set. He led 4-2 in the second but was a bundle of nerves serving for the match as the final game went to deuce 10 times.

The Dutchman eventually converted his sixth matchpoint when Baghdatis returned into the net.