Coria hot favorite in Monte Carlo
MONACO, Monte Carlo -- Guillermo Coria underlined his status as favorite for the Monte Carlo Masters with a 6-0 6-3 win over German Nicolas Kiefer to reach the third round on Wednesday.
The Argentine was runner-up last year to Juan Carlos Ferrero, who was beaten by fellow Spaniard Alex Corretja on Tuesday.
He was later joined in the last 16 by Britain's Tim Henman and Lleyton Hewitt of Australia who both ground out three set victories.
The world number four, seeded third this week, meets either Romania's Andrei Pavel or Swede Jonas Bjorkman next after a comprehensive victory.
With the world's top two Roger Federer and Andy Roddick opting not to play in Monte Carlo, Coria finds himself as the top contender to clinch the title on Sunday.
But had the Argentine listened to doctors in America last month, he too may have been missing from the line-up here.
"I was told in Miami that I may have a hernia and that I could be out for five to six months," said the 22-year-old who sought treatment after a back injury forced him out of the Miami Masters final against Roddick.
"But when I got back to Argentina, they said the problem was kidney stones. They were very painful but by drinking three litres of water every day, the problem has gone. I was very lucky."
Sixth seed Henman used his serve and volley game to good effect on clay to beat David Sanchez of Spain, surviving a second set wobble to win 6-3 6-7 6-3.
Henman, semifinalist two years ago for his best result on clay, suffered a second-set hiccup and nerves at key moments but did enough to win.
"I was a little more aggressive today... pleased with my game," said Henman. "I am winning at the moment and that's what it is all about."
Former world number one Hewitt achieved his best result in Monte Carlo with a 1-6 7-6 6-1 win over Gaston Gaudio of Argentina.
French Open runner-up Martin Verkerk became the first seeded casualty of the day when he lost 6-3, 6-2 to Croatia's Ivan Ljubicic.
The Croatian's reward for putting out the 14th seed is a third round clash against Corretja.
French wildcard Fabrice Santoro defeated the last American in the tournament, Taylor Dent, 6-3, 6-2 and will now face seventh-seeded Argentinian David Nalbandian in the third round after he beat Spain's Felix Mantilla 6-0 5-7 7-6.
