DEN BOSCH (Netherlands), June 20: Defending champion Mario Ancic struggled to a 7-6, 6-7, 7-5 win over Pakistani qualifier Aisam-ul-Haq in the first round of the Ordina Open on Monday.

At 6-5 in the final set, the towering Croat converted his only break point of the set to take the match, which lasted two hours and 43.

Ancic, seeded third, produced 18 aces in a match dominated by the two players’ big serves.

“I expected a very tough match because I know Aisam is a great grasscourt player,” Ancic said.

Dutch teenager Michaella Krajicek gave the home fans plenty to cheer in the women's event when she upset third seed Flavia Pennetta of Italy 7-5, 6-3.

Monday’s results:

Men’s singles:

First round: 3-Mario Ancic (Croatia) beat Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi (Pakistan) 7-6 (7-3), 6-7 (7-0), 7-5; Hyung-Taik Lee (South Korea) beat Arnaud Clement (France) 6-4, 6-4; Raemon Sluiter (Netherlands) beat Robin Vik (Czech Republic) 1-6, 6-3, 6-2; Jan Hernych (Czech Republic) beat Mikhail Ledovskikh (Russia) 6-0, 6-2; Julien Benneteau (France) beat Joseph Sirianni (Australia) 6-4, 6-4.

Women’s singles:

First round: Marta Domachowska (Poland) beat 6-Anabel Medina (Spain) 3-6, 6-3, 6-1; Paola Suarez (Argentina) beat 4-Maria Kirilenko (Russia) 6-4, 6-3; Klara Koukalova (Czech Republic) beat Virginia Ruano (Spain) 6-4, 6-3; Eleni Daniilidou (Greece) beat Jie Zheng (China) 6-4, 6-1; Michaella Krajicek (Netherlands) beat 3-Flavia Pennetta (Italy) 7-5, 6-3; Maria Elena Camerin (Italy) beat Maret Ani (Estonia) 7-5, 0-6, 6-2; Elena Vesnina (Russia) beat Julia Schruff (Germany) 6-2, 6-3; 7-Gisela Dulko (Argentina) beat Mariana Diaz Oliva (Argentina) 6-1, 7-6 (7-3).

NOTTINGHAM OPEN RESULTS:

First round: 7-Paradorn Srichaphan (Thailand) beat Danai Udomchoke (Thailand) 6-3, 7-6 (7-4); Jan Vacek (Czech Republic) beat 1-Thomas Johansson (Sweden) 7-6 (8-6), 6-7 (13-11), 6-4; Gilles Simon (France) beat Igor Kunitsyn (Russia) 6-4, 6-3; Janko Tipsarevic (Serbia & Montenegro) beat Richard Bloomfield (Britain) 6-4, 3 -,6 6-3; Andreas Seppi (Italy) beat Stanislas Wawrinka (Switzerland) 7-6 (9-7), 4-6, 6-4; 2-Dominik Hrbaty (Slovakia) beat Yeu-Tzuoo Wang (Taiwan) 6-0, 6-3.

EASTBOURNE WOMEN’S RESULTS:

First round: Nathalie Dechy (France) beat Shahar Peer (Israel) 6-1, 6-4; Elena Likhovtseva (Russia) beat 8-Daniela Hantuchova (Slovakia) 6-4, 7-6 (7-3); Ai Sugiyama (Japan) beat Katarina Srebotnik (Slovenia) 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 5-1 – Srebotnik retired; 6-Francesca Schiavone (Italy) beat Katie O'Brien (Britain) 6-3, 6-1.—Agencies