Verdasco saves 5 break points to beat Laaksonen in Sweden

BASTAD, Sweden (AP) Former finalist Fernando Verdasco saved all five break points he faced in beating Swiss qualifier Henri Laaksonen 6-3, 6-2 in the first round of the Swedish Open on Tuesday.

Verdasco, who won his seventh ATP title in Bucharest in April, has reached the quarterfinals or better five times in Bastad, including the 2013 final. He next faces Spanish compatriot Albert Montanes, who handed Elias Ymer of Sweden his 10th consecutive main draw loss, 6-4, 6-2.

Other winners included Taro Daniel of Japan, who downed seventh-seeded Horacio Zeballos og Argentina 6-4, 6-2, Gastao Elias of Portugal, Dustin Brown of Germany, and Roberto Carballes of Spain.

David Ferrer, the top seed and former two-time champion, had a bye into the second round.