Top-seeded Juan Carlos Ferrero struggled to put away Italy’s Potito Starace 7-6 (3), 4-6, 6-3 in his Mexican Open debut Monday. Fourth-seeded Juan Ignacio Chela also won his opener. The 2000 champion and runner-up last year beat Argentine countryman Sergio Roitman 6-3, 6-2. Ferrero, the former French Open champion trying to win his first title since October 2003, beat Starace two weeks ago en route…

Former world No. 1 player Gustavo Kuerten entered the main draw of the Tennis Channel Open through an unfamiliar door Monday. The three-time French Open champion from Brazil defeated Wesley Moodie of South Africa, 6-4, 7-5, in an elimination match. He advances to the 24-player, round-robin round, where he will play either Jan Hernych of the Czech Republic or eighth-seeded Benjamin Becker of Germany…