GSTAAD (Switzerland), July 7: Third seed Jiri Novak eased into the second round of the Swiss Open on Monday as the Gstaad crowds prepared to welcome home Wimbledon champion Roger Federer.

Federer, who moved up to the world number three slot after a straight-sets victory over Australian Mark Philippoussis in the Wimbledon final on Sunday, faces Spanish qualifier Marc Lopez in his opening round match on Tuesday.

In Monday’s first round matches Czech Novak, winner of the claycourt tournament two years ago, got his 2003 challenge off to a perfect start, beating Armenian Sargis Sargsian 6-3 6-3 in the newly-named Roy Emerson Arena.

The 28-year-old will now face Paul-Henri Mathieu in the second round after the Frenchman humbled German qualifier Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3 6-1.

Argentine players Gaston Gaudio and Juan Ignacio Chela, the tournament’s fourth and fifth seeds respectively, both ensured their continued presence in the tournament as they eased through in straight sets.

Gaudio beat Belgian Kristof Vliegen 6-3 6-4 while Chela lost just two games in his comprehensive 6-0 6-2 win over Brazilian Andre Sa.

Sixth seed Nikolay Davydenko, of Russia, was the first seed to fall when Frenchman Anthony Dupuis kept his cool in a close match.

In the other matches Christophe Rochus of Belgium beat Swiss player Michael Lammer 6-3 7-5 and Austria’s Stefan Koubek beat Spaniard Galo Blanco 6-1 1-6 6-3.

Results

First round: Jean-Rene Lisnard bt Stanislas Wawrinka 2-6 6-1 7-5; Gaston Gaudio bt Kristof Vliegen 6-3 6-4; Anthony Dupuis bt Nikolay Davydenko 7-6 (7-1)

7-6 (7-4); Stefan Koubek bt Galo Blanco

6-1 1-6 6-3; Jiri Novak bt Sargis Sargsian

6-3 6-3; Paul-Henri Mathieu bt

Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3 6-1; Christophe Rochus bt Michael Lammer 6-3 7-5;

Juan Ignacio Chela bt Andre Sa 6-0 6-2—Reuters