VIENNA, Oct 12: Ivan Ljubicic won his eighth straight match to reach the second round of the Vienna Trophy on Wednesday, beating Argentina’s Agustin Calleri 6-4 6-3. Ljubicic who was under pressure in the early stages on Wednesday, saved break points in his opening two service games as Calleri won his first two service games without conceding a point.

Ljubicic eventually held for 1-0 with an ace, and when down break point at 1-1 he fired three consecutive aces to hold.

Games continued to go with serve until a netted backhand from Calleri gave Ljubicic a set point at 5-4, and the Argentine made a forehand error to concede the set.

A single break also decided the second set. With Ljubicic leading 2-1, Calleri saved one break point with a service winner, but again made a forehand error to give Ljubicic a 3-1 lead.

ANCIC BATTERS BECK

STOCKHOLM: Mario Ancic gave Slovakia a taste of Croatian Davis Cup determination as he hammered out a 7-6 (7/2), 6-4 first-round win over Karol Beck Wednesday at the Stockholm Open.

The Croatian’s drive was reflected in the win over his current and future opponent, whom he tamed in one hour, 41 minutes with a 13-ace performance and two breaks of serve.

Results (First Round)

Mario Ancic (CRO) bt Karol Beck (SVK) 7-6 (7/2), 6-4; Christophe Rochus (BEL) bt Jose Acasuso (ARG) 6-3, 6-7 (4/7), 6-2; Olivier Rochus (BEL) bt Frederic Niemeyer (CAN) 6-2, 6-4; Alexander Waske (GER) bt Tomas Behrend (GER) 7-5, 6-4.

THAILAND OPEN RESULTS

BANGKOK: Results from the US$200,000 PTT Thailand Open WTA tournament on Wednesday:

Singles first round

Nadia Petrova (RUS) bt Nuria Llagostera Vives (ESP) 6-1, 6-2; Nicole Vaidisova (CZE) bt Abigail Spears (USA) 7-5, 6-2.

Second round

Stephanie Foretz (FRA) bt Martina Sucha (SVK) 7-6 (9/7), 6-3; Shahar Peer (ISR) bt Shenay Perry (USA) 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (7/2); Gisela Dulko (ARG) bt Virginia Ruano Pascual (ESP) 6-2,6-3.

ATP/WTA RESULTS

MOSCOW: Results from the third day of the US$2.3-million Kremlin Cup ATP and WTA tennis tournament on Wednesday:

Men (first round)

Igor Kunitsyn (RUS) bt Fabrice Santoro (FRA) 6-4, 6-4; Cyril Saulnier (FRA) bt Dominik Hrbaty (SVK) 4-6, 6-3, 6-3; Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) bt Lukas Dlouhy (CZE) 6-4, 6-3; Greg Rusedski (GBR) bt Michael Llodra (FRA) 6-3, 6-1.

Second round:

Nicolas Kiefer (GGER) bt Florian Mayer (GER) 6-4, 6-3

Women (first round)

Maria Sharapova (RUS) bt Anna-Lena Groenefeld (GER) 1-6, 2-4 retired;

Anastasia Myskina (RUS) bt Magdalena Maleeva (BUL) 2-6, 6-4, 6-2;

Vera Zvonareva (RUS) bt Maria Kirilenko (RUS) 6-2, 6-3.

Second round

Mary Pierce (FRA) bt Flavia Pennetta (ITA) 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.—Agencies