Third seed Argentine David Nalbandian [ Images ] went out of the Toronto Masters in the first round on Monday when he was beaten 6-1, 6-2 by grey-haired Italian Davide Sanguinetti.

The burly Nalbandian was completely outclassed by the 33-year-old qualifier, who needed just 58 minutes to collect his first win in three attempts on Canadian hard courts.

In other first-round action, fourth seed Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia [ Images ] eased passed Spain's Nicolas Almagro 7-5, 6-1 and fifth seed James Blake [ Images ] needed just 56 minutes to crush the hopes of home town favourite 17-year-old Canadian Philip Bester 6-4, 6-1.

In contrast, Argentina's Jose Acasuso needed more than two hours and an epic second set tie-break to beat Germany's [ Images ] Bjorn Phau 7-5, 7-6 (20-18).

The tie-break equalled the longest on the ATP Tour record books. It marks the fifth time a singles tie-break had gone the record distance first reached by Bjorn Borg [ Images ] and Premjit Nall at Wimbledon [ Images ] in 1973.

BIGGEST SCALP

Sanguinetti had just three career wins over top 10 opponents and the 24-year-old Nalbandian -- currently a career-high number three in the world rankings -- represents the biggest scalp claimed by a man who spent last week playing at a Challenger event in Recanati, Italy [ Images ].

"I was relaxed," the 68th-ranked Sanguinetti told reporters. "If I lose, it's not a shame to lose to number three in the world. I was surprised by the score but I think I made him play my game.

"I love it. I love to see the old man can still win against the young guys."

The Argentine attributed his early exit to a fever that he said left him short of energy.

"I had a fever but I wanted to try and play," said the South American. "I said to myself that I would give it a go.

"I tried to compete but I didn't have the energy today."

Czech Tomas Berdych, seeded 13, advanced with a 6-4, 7-5 win over Canada's [ Images ] Daniel Nestor [ Images ] while 15th seed Fernando Gonzalez [ Images ] of Chile scraped by Sweden's Robin Soderline 6-3, 4-6, 6-2.

Ninth seed and Australian Open [ Images ] finalist Marcos Baghdatis [ Images ] joined Nalbandian at the exit after falling 5-7, 6-2, 6-3 Julien Benneteau [ Images ] of France [ Images ].

Britain's Tim Henman [ Images ] received easy passage into the second round breezing past Sweden's Jonas Bjorkman [ Images ] 6-2, 6-3.

Henman's former Davis Cup team mate Greg Rusedski [ Images ], however, lost 6-4 6-2 to Russian Mikhail Youzhny.

In a battle of former French Open [ Images ] champions, Spain's Carlos Moya [ Images ] brushed past Argentina's Gaston Gaudio 6-1, 6-4.

The tournament moves into top gear on Tuesday when world number one Roger Federer [ Images ] and French Open champion Rafael Nadal [ Images ] return to action for the first time since the Wimbledon final.

Federer will open his account against Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu while Nadal takes on Chile's Nicolas Massau.