ATP Kuala Lumpur: Nicolas Almagro vs. Albert Ramos

Top seed Nicolas Almagro is in action against Albert Ramos in the evening session on day four of the Malaysian Open in Kuala Lumpur.

At ninth in the ATP Race, Almagro is within touching distance of qualifying for the ATP World Tour Finals for the first time but that's where the good news ends for the Spaniard. The vast bulk of his points have come on the clay of Europe and South America but all's left now is a stretch of indoor events. The sluggish hard court surface in Kuala Lumpur this week could be his best chance of reaching another final by the end of the season.

A powerful player with the ability to muscle the ball through the court, the lack of pace will not bother Almagro and he should be very comfortable in this opening match against Ramos.

Ramos was leading Mikhail Kukushkin 4-6, 6-3, 4-2 in the first round before the Kazakhstani had to retire through illness.