STOCKHOLM, Oct 22: American Jan-Michael Gambill needed five match points to finally carve out a victory over Olivier Rochus 6-1, 3- 6, 7-6 (10-8) in Tuesday’s first round at the 650,000-dollar Stockholm Open.

Gambill, a 1999 semi-finalist in the Swedish capital, began turning his late season around, with this week and next remaining, after losing in the first round at three of his last four events.

Frenchman Michael Llodra took a straight-sets victory against Holland’s John Van Lottum 6-3, 6-2.

Tenth-seeded German Rainer Schuettler defeated Spaniard Albert Montanes 6-1, 6-2 in 49 minutes.

World No 1 Lleyton Hewitt received a wild card into Stockholm after missing last week in Spain through illness. He had angered organisers here a year ago, pulling out ill at the last moment.

Swede Thomas Johansson is also fighting for a Shanghai place and could get an entry as the highest-placed current Grand Slam winner through his Australian open title last January.

Results:

First round: Lleyton Hewitt, 1, Australia, def. Thomas Enqvist, Sweden, injury walkover Rainer Schuettler, 10 Germany, def. Albert Montanes, Spain, 6-1, 6-2 Jan-Michael Gambill, U.S., def. Olivier Rochus, Belgium, 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (10-8) Andreas Vinciguerra, Sweden, def. Karol Beck, Slovakia, 7-6 (10-8), 6-1 Michael Llodra, France, def. John Van Lottum, Holland, 6-3, 6-2 —dpa