BEIJING, 15 September 2005 — Late-starting top seed Rafael Nadal lifted his confidence yesterday after an early US Open exit, thrashing Asian journeyman Wang Yeu-tzoo 6-2, 6-4 to open his account at the $500,000 China Open.

Taipei opponent Wang, ranked 100th in the world with just two ATP match wins this season, was fresh from a Challenger title in Turkey, but his travel schedule forced the first-round match to be delayed until day three.

Even with a bad patch from French Open champion Nadal, Wang’s modest form was unable to match the teenaged No. 2, chasing a 10th title this season and the second of his career on hardcourt.

The Spaniard overcame a mid-match letdown to finally advance into a second-round clash today with American Justin Gimelstob in one hour, 28 minutes.

Nadal committed only four unforced errors, striking 17 winners.

He has admitted he was stunned at the US Open with his third-round loss to James Blake, but the Spaniard is keen to make an impression this week in his Chinese debut.

“I lost concentration in the second set. But that’s probably because it was too easy, My confidence was low after the Open, but I’m hoping for a few wins here to try and get it back,” he said.

Argentine third seed David Nalbandian rolled past Israeli qualifier Amir Hadad 6-4, 6-0, setting up a quarterfinal tomorrow with former world No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero.

Nalbandian, who reached the US Open quarterfinals where he lost to Roger Federer, improved to 31-13 in 2005.

The 2002 Wimbledon finalist has reached the last eight in three of four Grand Slam events this year: Melborne, Wimbledon and New York.

Hadad was unable to notch a third ATP win on the season after defeating Belgian Dick Norman in the first round.

Ferrero, the tournament No. 6 from Spain recovered against California-based Russian Dmitry Tursunov 6-4, 7-6 (7 4) after missing a pair of set points in the tenth game of the second set. Ferrero, whose best result of the season came in a spring Barcelona final on clay, managed to secure the win after rallying from 1-4 down in the ensuing tiebreaker, setting it up with his fourth ace as he won the last six points.

Davenport Eases

Through in Bali

In Bali, world No. 2 and top seed Lindsay Davenport lacked focus at times but came through 6-3, 6-2 against Japan’s Rika Fujiwara to reach the third round of the Bali International tournament yesterday.

The American took advantage of early breaks in each set to overcome an inexperienced but plucky opponent who rallied well and struck some fine volleys.

Davenport broke to lead 2-0 in the first set, but then had to fight off three break points at 3-1 and then another as she served for the set.

Davenport then broke for 1-0 in the second set and comfortably maintained her lead.

“I’m never one that necessarily plays their best right off the bat,” said Davenport. “It took a little while to settle into the conditions and how Rika plays, but I do feel I started to improve some things in the second set.” Davenport is hoping to quickly put her disappointing Quarterfinal defeat at the US Open behind her.

“Any time that a Grand Slam is over and you feel like you have a chance to win, there’s obviously a let-down when it doesn’t happen that way,” she said.

“But coming here, it’s been a really great opportunity to relax and get back out on the court right away.” Fourth seed Francesca Schiavone overcame Spain’s Laura Pous Tio 6-3, 6-4, the feisty Italian untroubled by her hard-hitting but erratic opponent.