Spaniard Verdasco, the world No. 7 and winner in Valencia in 2004, broke 85th-ranked Russell's serve five times and saved two of the three break points he faced on the indoor hard court.

Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Robin Soderling have already qualified for the Nov. 21-28 season-ending ATP Tour finals in London.

Like Verdasco, David Ferrer and Mikhail Youzhny are still in with a good chance of clinching one of the three remaining berths in the London event.

Youzhny, who lost to Murray in last year's final, takes on Uruguayan qualifier Pablo Cuevas on Wednesday.

Murray and Soderling are both competing in Valencia, where Scottish world number four Murray is the defending champion and top seed.

Murray gets his title defense under way on Tuesday against Spaniard Feliciano Lopez, when second seed Soderling meets Albert Montanes, another Spaniard.

Meanwhile, Top-ranked Rafael Nadal and No. 2 Roger Federer are headed back to Abu Dhabi.

Organizers of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship say Nadal and Federer will compete at the tournament scheduled to run over New Year's.

Also on the lineup are Robin Soderling, Tomas Berdych, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Marcos Baghdatis.

Nadal won his first title of 2010 in Abu Dhabi earlier this year. He says the Emirati capital “holds great memories” for him and provides good preparation heading into the Australian Open.

The tournament runs from Dec. 30 to Jan. 1.