Enqvist, Rusedski win opening round matches

Greg Rusedski and Thomas Enqvist cruised through their opening round matches at the Australian men's

Greg Rusedski and Thomas Enqvist cruised through their opening round matches at the Australian men's

hardcourt tennis championship today.

British sixth seed Rusedski eclipsed Spain's Jacobo Diaz in straight sets, 6-3, 7-6 (7/4).

Sweden's Enqvist, the tournament's third seed, accounted for Chilean Marcelo Rios 6-0, 6-3.

READ MORE

While Rusedski and Enqvist advanced to the second round, Swedish seventh seed Andreas Vinciguerra was eliminated by Spain's Alberto Martin, 6-3, 6-4.

Eighth seed Ivan Ljubicic from Croatia also advanced in a tight encounter with American Michael Russell, winning 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (15/13).

Frenchman Jerome Golmard ousted Australian Davis Cup team member Wayne Arthurs, 6-4, 6-0, while compatriot Michael Llodra eliminated South African Wayne Ferreira 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.

Australian Richard Fromberg won his qualifying match Monday against Frenchman Gregory Carraz 6-4, 6-4 and will play tournament top seed Britain's Tim Henman on Tuesday.

Second seed Pete Sampras meets Todd Martin in an all-American encounter on Tuesday night.

Australian Mark Philippoussis also opens his campaign Tuesday against Frenchman Julien Boutter while compatriot Andrew Ilie meets Paul-Henri Mathieu in another first round match Tuesday night.

AFP