SYDNEY, Jan 12: Greg Rusedski briefly cast aside his off-court troubles to beat Argentina's Juan Ignacio Chela 7-6 7-6 at the Sydney international on Monday.

Former world number Lleyton Hewitt also made a successful return to the tour after a four-month break with a 6-4 6-2 win over Sargis Sargsian of Armenia.

But last year's Australian Open runner-up Rainer Schuettler, the second seed, crashed out to Swedish qualifier Joachim Johansson.

Germany's Schuettler, who was also beaten in the first round at Doha last week, slipped to a surprise 6-4 6-4 defeat to the boyfriend of Hewitt's younger sister Jaslyn.

"I'm been practising with Lleyton for the last two weeks so I should say thanks to him," Johansson said. Rusedski, the British number two, regained his composure after failing to serve out for the match in the second set, winning a second successive tiebreak to send the higher-ranked South American tumbling out of the tournament.

Chela, a finalist in Sydney two years ago, twice had a chance to square the match at one set all only to be denied by the booming left-hand serve of Rusedski, who celebrated his victory by punching the air in delight.

Results: