Philippoussis advances at Sybase Open

Defending champion Mark Philippoussis defeated Germany's

Defending champion Mark Philippoussis defeated Germany's

Marcus Hantschk 6-3, 6-7 (7/9), 6-3 on Wednesday in the first round of the ATP Tour Sybase Open in San Jose.

In other first-round matches, Swtizerland's Michel Kratochvil routed Sanguinetti 6-2, 6-0 and Juan Balcells of Spain defeated 18-year-old Jose Acasuso of Argentina, 7-5, 6-1.

In the final night match, Croatia's Goran Ivanisevic swept to a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Cecil Mamiit.

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Three second-round matches were played on Wednesday.

Sixth seed Jan-Michael Gambill won a pair of tiebreakers to defeat 18-year-old Andy Roddick 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/1) in an all-American battle.

Eighth-seeded Greg Rusedski of Britain ousted Italian qualifier Renzo Furlan 6-3, 6-2 and Sargis Sargsian of Armenia outlasted Wayne Arthurs of Australia 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 7-6 (7/2).

AFP