The 32-year-old from Italy never looked a threat against Nadal, the 18-year-old tipped as the next big thing from the Iberian tennis factory.

Nadal made Sanguinetti look his age in an hour, with the 75th-ranked Italian never showing the form which took him to the Vienna semi-finals last weekend.

The 50th-ranked Nadal, who won his first career title over the summer on clay, moved into a match against American 14th seed Vince Spadea as he improved to 29-15 this season.

"It will be a difficult match, but I certainly have to do better than today," said the Spaniard.

"But this match has given me confidence.

"I needed to win it after losing my last two."

Nadal is among the biggest of fan favourites at the Rockodromo after his performance in lifting Spain in September's Davis Cup semi-final over France and into a December showdown with the United States in Seville.

Second-seeded 2002 champion Andre Agassi, whom Nadal could meet if he passes Spadea, was preparing to open after a bye, taking on Max Mirnyi.

Agassi has not played since losing in the U.S. Open quarterfinals to Roger Federer, a span of more than five weeks-off court. The 34-year-old takes a 3-0 lifetime record into the match-up.

German Tommy Haas stretched his 2004 comeback effort, hammering home a 6-4, 6-1 win over Xavier Malisse in the first round.

Haas, winner of two titles this season -- the second, in Los Angeles, earning him a dinner with his father's childhood friend, California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger -- improved to 32-19 this season.

After missing all of 2003 through shoulder surgery, the 26-year-old is steadily climbing the rankings, currently standing 26th.

But Florida-based Haas, who has trained numerous times with Malisse at the Bollettieri academy, is hoping to maintain his momentum for a few more weeks until the regular ATP season ends.

"When I returned (to tennis), I told myself that I'll look at everything by the end of the year. I have two more weeks to go after this tournament.

"Most likely I'll have a little bit of a break, then I will have time to look back and be pretty proud of myself. But I'll give it my best the next few weeks.

"So far it's been beyond my expectations."

Other winners included American Taylor Dent who overcame Russian Mikhail Youzhny 6-3, 6-2 and Spain's Fernando Verdasco who crushed Swedish veteran Jonas Bjorkman 6-1, 6-2.

Croatian Ivan Ljubicic ousted Czech teenager Tomas Berdych 6-4, 6-4 and Argentine Guillermo Canas beat Belgian Kristian Vliegen 5-7, 7-5, 6-1.