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        The mentor and protege (if you can call it that) share a common goal. Yes, Spanish veteran Carlos Moya and Rafael Nadal, want to get better and improve on their current rankings. The two were in action at the Chennai Open ATP tennis tournament at the SDAT stadium, Nungambakkam, yesterday, took some time to assert their class and did so in style.

        The duo from Mallorca are as different as chalk and cheese in playing styles. While Moya at 30, a senior statesman among the players, is a conventional baseliner, who has enjoyed more success on hard courts too, Nadal bludgeons the opposition with his own brand of power tennis.

        It must be said Nadal's phenomenal rise has coincided with Moya's decline. The 20-year-old left-hander has powered his way to new heights and only Roger Federer's brilliance has stopped him from climbing to the top of the totem pole.

        Moya is hugely popular in Chennai despite his waning powers and it was evident in his win over the resilient Alexander Waske yesterday. The crowd egged the Spaniard on every occasion he appeared to struggle. 'I am happy I played well. He is a difficult opponent for me,' Moya said after booking a second-round berth.

        Asked about his aim to return to the top 20 in the ATP rankings again, he said, 'If I stay healthy and play my best it is possible.'

        Nadal, who quelled the early challenge of experienced German Rainer Schuettler, said, 'I needed the win, I wasn't feeling 100 per cent fluent coming back into competition after the break.' The tournament top-seed clad in a bright yellow sleeveless T-shirt did come up with his trademark booming forehands and handled a tough rival with relative ease.

        'It's good to begin the season with a victory, but I need more match practice before going to Australia (for the season's first Grand Slam).'

        Well begun is half done, it is said. So, the feisty Spaniard will be keen to build on that and mount a serious challenge to Federer.

        For the two friends, it is a long season ahead faced with myriad challenges. Who outdoes the other remains to be seen.