Nadal remains relaxed as he gains on Federer

 The Spaniard who starts in the second round after a bye, said Monday that until the rankings show differently, he remains second in the world behind Swiss star Federer.

 "I'm having a good season, but still number two," said Nadal, the four-time French Open winner. "But I still have the same motivation to continue improving my tennis."

   Nadal, the 2005 champion in Canada and a semi-finalist last year against Novak Djokovic, said he still hopes to someday reach the top spot.

 "Everybody wants to be number one, I do for sure. But right now I only want to play a very good tournament here in Toronto."

   After the right wrist injury pullout of Marcos Baghdatis, Nadal will play the winner from a match between a qualifier and a Canadian.

 He is seeded to meet top-seed Federer in the final. And he's not taking anything for granted despite pulling close to Federer in the points chase.

 "I have less points to defend, but normally he plays better than me on this kind of surface. He did very well for the last five years in this tournament," Nadal said of Federer, last year's losing finalist to Novak Djokovic and the 2004 and 2006 winner.

 European seeds advanced into the second round of a day interrupted around midday by rain, with Stan Wawrinka, the number nine, leading the way.

 Federer began his week with a defeat of Italian Simone Bolelli 6- 4, 7-6 (7-4), while 10th seed Richard Gasquet, fighting to get back into the Top 10, advanced over compatriot Michel Llodra 6-2, 4-6, 6- 3.

 "I'm happy to win this match but it's difficult to win against a friend," said Gasquet after handing Llodra his fifth defeat without a win in Canada.

 "Michael has a big serve and he tried to play one or two strokes to win the point. I tried to fight but I'm happy to have gotten through in the wind."

   There was victory for Spain's number 12 Tommy Robredo as he predictably dashed early Canadian hopes with a win over number 208 Frederic Niemeyer 7-6 (7-4), 6-1.

 Chile's number 14 Fernando Gonzalez beat Frenchman Julien Benneteau 6-2, 6-1 while Germany's Nicolas Kiefer eliminated American Mardy Fish 7-5, 7-6 (7-4).

DPA