AUCKLAND, Jan 8: Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic pulled out all the stops to beat Finland’s Jarkko Nieminen 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 in the first round of the Auckland Open men’s tournament Tuesday.

The second seed was backed by a large number of local Croatians and he was glad to have got further than on his only other appearance in Auckland in 2000 when he lost in the first round to then reigning champion Sjeng Schalken of the Netherlands.

Third seed Gambill, of the United States, recovered from a horror first set against Spaniard Francisco Clavet when he went down 6-0, but lost in the tie-break in the second.

Eighth seed Hrbaty was knocked out 3-6 6-1 6-2 by big serving Belgian Gilles Elseneer, ranked 205th.

Results:

First round. Gilles Elseneer (Belgium) beat 8-Dominik Hrbaty (Slovakia) 3-6 6-1 6-2. Michel Kratochvil (Switzerland) beat Robby Ginepri (United States) 6-3 6-2. 5-Jiri Novak (Czech Republic) beat Andrea Gaudenzi (Italy) 7-5 6-3.

First round Tamarine Tanasugarn (Thailand) beat Irina Selyutina (Kazakhstan) 6-2 6-7 (3-7) 6-3; Anna Smashnova (Israel) beat Saori Obata (Japan) 6-1 6-3

Second round 7-Nathalie Dechy (France) beat Jill Craybas (U.S.) 0-6 7-6 (10-8) 7-5; Amanda Grahame (Australia) beat Rachel McQuillan (Australia) 6-4 6-4; Lilia Osterloh (U.S.) beat Samantha Reeves (U.S.) 3-6 6-4 6-2.

Rita Grande (Ita) bt Rita Kuti Kis (Hon) 6-4 6-3; 2-Paola Suarez (Arg) bt Elena Tatarkova (Ukr) 6-3 6-3; Meilen Tu (E-U) bt Cara Black (Zim) 6-4 6-3; Martina Muller (All) bt Joanette Kruger (AFS) 6-3 7-6 (7-3); 8-Nicole Pratt (Aus) bt Virginie Razzano (Fra) 6-2 6-3; Anabel Medina Garrigues (Esp) bt Marina Diaz-Olivia (Arg); 6-2 6-3; Barbara Schwartz (Aut) bt Christina Wheeler (Aus) 6-1 5-7 6-3; Mary Pierce (Fra) bt Kristina Brandi (E-U) 6-0 6-3; Emmanuelle Gagliardi (Sui) bt Marissa Irvin (E-U) 6-4 6-2; Jennifer Hopkins (E-U) bt Bianka Lamade (All) 6-1 6-1; Amy Frazier (E-U) bt Celine Beigbeder (Fra) 6-3 6-2; Stephanie Foretz (Fra) bt Lenka Dlhopolcova (Slq) 6-3 7-6 (7-3).—Reuters