González triumphant, a "thorn" in rival Acasuso's side

SANTIAGO.- No one can stop him now. Chilean tennis player Fernando González (ATP No. 14) continues to be known as the "thorn in the side" of José Acasuso (ATP No. 45).

Chile's number one player has made it through to the second round of Masters 500 in Barcelona after defeating his Argentine rival by a double score of 6-4 in one hour and eleven minutes. With the result, the La Reina native has managed to gain his ninth victory (out of a total of 11 matches) over Acasuso.

The last time the two players met –at the final match of the ATP tournament in Viña del Mar- González triumphed with scores of 6-1 and 6-3. Today however, was a bit different.

Acasuso fought hard and even scored some points, but was overcome by one of the best forehands in the circuit.

During the next round of the Barcelona tournament, González will go up against the victor of the confrontation between Spanish player Daniel Gimeno-Traver (ATP 83) and Argentine player Juan Mónaco (ATP 58).