Murray, Almagro, Verdasco Through to Third Round in Barcelona

By Chris Oddo

Photo Credit: Sebastien Nogier/AFP/Getty Images

(April 24, 2012)--Andy Murray notched his 20th win of 2012 with a straight-sets victory over Sergiy Stakhovsky in Barcelona. Murray saved both break points he faced in the first set, winning 14 of 16 first serve points.

The 24-year-old world No. 4 was troubled in his first service game, facing a break point against the world No. 68, but he survived and went on to gain the advantage in the fourth game when he cashed in on his third break point of the game to go up 3-1.

Stakhovsky had another chance to break in the seventh game, but Murray again held tough. After Stakhovsky held to draw to 5-3, Murray pitched a love hold to take the set.

The second seed did not face another break point en route to the 6-3, 6-2 triumph.

With the victory, Murray becomes the tenth ATP player to reach the 20-win plateau. His 343 career wins currently rank him 13th among active players.

Murray will face the winner of the Robin Haase-Santiago Giraldo match in the third round.

Elsewhere in second-round action, 2010 champion Fernando Verdasco defeated Steve Darcis 6-3, 6-1 and 6th-seeded Nicolas Almagro defeated Edouard Roger-Vasselin 7-5, 7-6(3).

In first-round action, 19-year-old Aussie Bernard Tomic cruised by Ernests Gulbis 6-4, 6-3. Spaniards Pablo Andujar and Albert Ramos, finalists at Casablanca a week ago, also advanced.

Top-seeded Rafael Nadal will open his tournament tomorrow against Guillermo Garcia-Lopez. Nadal owns a 3-1 record against his compatriot, with the lone loss coming in the 2010 Bangkok semifinals.