Juan Ignacio Chela will be looking to retain his ATP Bucharest title this week.
The 19th edition of the BDR Nastase Tiriac Trophy is led by reigning champion Juan Ignacio Chela, who is the top seed for the third time this year in an ATP World Tour tournament (Umag, Kitzbuehel).
This is also the final clay court tournament on the ATP World Tour this season.
Last year Chela defeated Spanish qualifier Pablo Andujar in straights sets and went on to capture the doubles title (w/Kubot). The other former champion in the field is No. 8 seed Spaniard Albert Montanes, who won the title two years ago. He also reached the final in his Bucharest debut in 2001.
The No. 2 seed is German Florian Mayer, who reached the semi-finals here in 2004. The other seeds are No. 3 Marcel Granollers of Spain, No. 4 Andujar, No. 5 Potito Starace of Italy, No. 6 Tommy Robredo of Spain, No. 7 Andreas Seppi of Italy and No. 8 Montanes.
There are five former finalists in the draw: Andujar, top Romanian Victor Hanescu (2007), Italian Filippo Volandri (2006), Russian Igor Andreev (2004-05) and Montanes (2001).
There are two main draw singles matches and four final round qualifying matches on Monday. Former World No. 5 and No. 6 seed Tommy Robredo makes his Bucharest debut against Brazilian Joao Souza in a first-time meeting.
Robredo is 19-7 on the season and he captured his 10th career ATP World Tour title in Santiago in February. Souza is at a career-high No. 84 this week and in August he advanced to the semi-finals in Kitzbuehel.
In the second match, Frenchman Jeremy Chardy takes a 3-0 career mark against Frederico Gil of Portugal. Chardy won all three meetings in Grand Slam play in 2008.
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