Greg Rusedski launched his Australian Open campaign with a barrage of aces as he powered his way past first round opponent David Witt in Melbourne.

Greg Rusedski comments on his first round victory (Dur:0'47")

The No 5 seed served 27 aces on his way to a comfortable 7-6 (7-4), 6-4, 6-3 victory over the American qualifier.

"I was pleased with the way I played today," said Rusedski.

"It was not an easy first round match. When I was in the juniors he was the top dog and I was just one of the regular drifters, but it's turned out right for me."

Wimbledon epic set for rerun

Rusedski had to save two set points on his serve in the opening set before taking the tie-break with ease.

But one break of the Witt serve was enough in each of the next two sets as his opponent, ranked 208 in the world, suffered a leg injury that forced him off court at one stage for treatment.

Rusedski's next opponent will be American Jonathan Stark in a repeat of their epic second round encounter at Wimbledon last year when Rusedski came back from two sets down to win 11-9 in the final set.

Stark came through against Carlos Costa this morning after the Spaniard was forced to retire when trailing 4-1 in the second set, having already lost the first.

Easy win for Hingis

The biggest early shocks were the demise of eighth seed Thomas Muster, and Croat No 13 Goran Ivanisevic.

Austrian veteran Muster, the eighth seed and former world No 1, crashed 6-4, 7-6, 7-5 to the world No 243 Jan Appell of Sweden, while Ivanisevic rallied from two sets down to take the third set against Holland's Jan Siemerink, before eventually falling 6-2, 7-6, 3-6, 4-6.

Last year's French Open winner and 12th seed in Melbourne, Brazilian Gustavo Kuerten, survived the loss of the second set to beat Spaniard Jacobo Diaz 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Women's world No 1 Martina Hingis easily beat German Wiltrud Probst 6-1, 6-2, going through to a second round match against another German, Barbara Rittner.

Fellow seeds Anke Huber, Dominique Van Roost, Ai Sugiyama and Sandrine Testud are also through. Meanwhile, seventh seed Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, of Spain, eliminated Janet Lee of Taiwan 6-0, 6-4.
 

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