MELBOURNE, Jan 15: Lleyton Hewitt became the first Australian Open top seed ever to lose in the first round of the men’s singles on Tuesday when he was sensationally dumped out by journeyman Spaniard Alberto Martin 1-6 6-1 6-4 7-6.

The world number one, recovering from a bout of chicken pox, received courtside treatment for blisters and had his thighs massaged, as he lost to a player who before this year had won just one match in four visits to the Open.

Hewitt had been the first home male seeded one at the Melbourne grand slam since Ken Rosewall in 1976. That year, Rosewall lost in the second round.

One of the biggest shock results in the history of the tournament leaves the first grand slam of the year without its top three seeds after Gustavo Kuerten lost to Julien Boutter on Monday hours after defending champion and third seed Andre Agassi pulled out with a wrist injury.

Tournament officials were also left reeling after fifth seed Serena Williams pulled out hurt before hitting a ball. Former champion Mary Pierce, a fans’ favourite in Melbourne, also withdrew with an injury.

Earlier on Tuesday the Open lost another major drawcard when Anna Kournikova was beaten 6-2 7-5 by sixth seed Justine Henin.

But defending women’s champion Jennifer Capriati worked her way into the second round safely with a comfortable 6-4 6-1 victory over Croatia’s Silvija Talaja.

She was joined in round two by fellow American and twice champion Pete Sampras as the eighth seed cruised past grand slam debutant Jarkko Nieminen 6-3 6-3 6-4.

Promising young American Andy Roddick had a happy return to Melbourne. Australian junior champion two years ago, Roddick made a powerful start to his first senior campaign in Melbourne when he beat erratic Argentine Mariano Zabaleta 6-3 5-7 6-3 6-3.

Earlier on the Rod Laver Arena court Hewitt’s chicken pox spots had gone but so, it seemed, had the fire and grit which have made the 20-year-old world number one.

He steamed confidently through the first set 6-1 before Martin had chance to settle in an unfamiliar show court surrounding.

The Spaniard, who reached his first-ever hardcourt semifinal in Adelaide earlier this month, found his feet, though, and began to get good depth on his groundstrokes.

He hit back to level in impressive fashion before snatching the third set when more and more errors crept into Hewitt’s game.

Hewitt received treatment for blisters and had a thigh massage in the fourth set as he lacked his usual aggression.

Hewitt held serve to force a tiebreak but Martin, who also had thigh massage on the side of the court while 5-4 ahead, won the next two points for the biggest win of his career.

Hewitt’s Belgian girlfriend followed him on to centre court and the fourth seed brushed aside the disappointment of his loss to crush Australian wild card Christina Wheeler 6-2 6-1.

Capriati was also impressive, signalling her intention to fight off all challengers at Melbourne Park with a solid and determined win.

She briefly stuttered early in her match against a player who, while currently at 103 in the world, was once ranked as high as world number 18 two years ago.

But after edging the opening set she pulled away in the second with some heavier hitting and powerful serves.

“Now being seeded number one and being number one I like the feeling and I want to try and keep it for a while,” Capriati said.

Sampras, whose chances of winning a 14th grand slam title were boosted when last year’s winner Agassi pulled out of his quarter of the draw, looked untroubled against the Finn on Rod Laver Arena court.

“I was pretty pleased...I set the tone early on,” he said. “He came out a little nervous and I took advantage of that.”

In a battle of two former French Open champions, Croatian Iva Majoli upset 14th seed Arantxa Sanchez Vicario of Spain 6-4 7-5.

RESULTS

Men