Good day for seeds in Madrid as big guns prepare for debut

Reigning Champion Maria Sharapova booked place in the second round of the Mutua Madrid Open on Tuesday.

This year's number 3 seed defeated Mariana Duque from Colombia 6-1, 6-2 in just over an hour, while number 4 seed Petra Kvitkova also made it into the next round, despite being made to work a lot harder by Coco Vandeweghe 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 in a match lasting almost two hours.

Number 7 seed Ana Ivanovic also qualified for the next round with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Ukrainian Elina Svitolina.

Meanwhile Spain's top woman player Carla Suarez, who is tenth seed in Madrid enjoyed a two set triumph 7-5 against German qualifier Julia Goerges.

There was only one surprise as 15th seed Sara Errani became the victim of the first surprise of the competition as she lost 6-3, 7- 6 (6) 6-4 to Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

In the men's competition the seeds enjoyed a successful day, starting with fifth seed Milos Raonic, the Canadian who defeated Argentinean Juan Monaco 6-3, 6-4 in one hour and seven minutes.

Number 10 seed Grigor Dimitov enjoyed an easy 6-4, 3-0 triumph against American Donald Young in a game that was after 58 minutes as Young was forced to withdraw because of physical problems.

Number 12 seed, Frenchman Jo Wilfried Tsonga beat Czech Lukas Rosol 7-6, 6-3, while 13 seed Gael Monfils needed one hour and one second to get past Russian, Viktor Troicki 6-2, 6-0.

Meanwhile Spanish qualifier Alfred Ramos Vinolas produced a slight surprise as he beat Pablo Cuevas 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 and Leonardo Mayer enjoyed a straight sets triumph over Giles Muller Wednesday will see Spanish number one, Rafa Nadal, who is the number 3 seed in Madrid play his first match of the tournament while top seed Roger Federer and number 2 seed, Andy Murray also make their debuts. Endite