Andy Murray, who trained in Barcelona as a teenager, improved to a 20-5 season record with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Sergiy Stakhovsky of Ukraine for a place in the third round. “I thought I was hitting the ball well and I played better as the match went on,” said Murray.

Sixth seed Nicolas Almagro from Spain is making his ninth appearance at this ATP World Tour 500 clay-court tournament defeated Eduoard Roger-Vasselin of France 7-5, 7-6(3) . The Spaniard already has tasted success on red dirt this year at the Brasil Open.

Former Champion and ninth seed Fernando Verdasco brushed aside Belgian Steve Darcis 6-3, 6-1. Verdasco notched his 12th match win in Barcelona and is the only former champion left in the draw alongside Rafael Nadal. He faces fellow Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, who defeated Belgian Olivier Rochus 6-3, 6-3.