Buenos Aires, Argentina - Argentine favorite Leonardo Mayer and fellow countryman Juan Monaco were easy first-round winners Monday at the Argentina Open tennis tournament.

The fifth-seeded Buenos Aires Mayer resident blew past Frenchman Stephane Robert 6-0, 6-1 on the clay courts at the famed Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club.

Mayer will face Monaco in the second round. Monaco, who titled here in 2007, cruised to a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Maximo Gonzalez in his opener.

Another Day 1 result saw Italian Paolo Lorenzi hold off Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci, 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 6-1.

This week's top seed is former world No. 1 great Rafael Nadal. His fellow Spaniard David Ferrer will not defend his Buenos Aires title this week as he decided to play in Acapulco instead. Ferrer topped Italian Fabio Fognini in last year's Buenos Aires finale to capture a third straight championship in Argentina.

The 2015 Buenos Aires titlist will collect $91,050.