Rusedski ends barren run

Greg Rusedski said he was delighted with the win

Greg Rusedski was given a brisk work-out by Kiwi Mark Nielsen before reaching the second round of the ATP New Zealand Open.

The British number two came through in straight sets, winning 6-4 6-4 against a rival who was also unseeded.

He now meets Zimbabwean fifth seed Byron Black, who beat Spain's Albert Portas 2-6 6-2 6-4.

After the match Rusedski admitted he was relieved to have won.

New techniques

"I'm not expecting a lot right now, because I'm making a lot of changes to my game," he said. "But it's certainly a positive thing to have won.

"The more matches I can play, the more I can put my game to the test, the better off I'll be.

"The last month and a half I've been putting in a lot of work with Pat Cash and changing my game and trying to take a lot of stress off my body with new techniques.

"To get a win right now is certainly a bonus.

Reversal of fortunes

"I have stages where I don't play particularly well and it's a little bit of a struggle.

"I have periods where I can serve really well, but it's all a matter of consistency in my game from the first ball to the last."

There was a change of fortunes for Marcelo Rios and Michal Tabara who both lost their 100% records for the season.

Rios, winner of the $1 million Qatar Open last week and seeded sixth here lost out 3-6 6-1 7-6 to France's Arnaud Di Pasquale in the first round.

Czech Tabara won his maiden title at the Indian Open last week but fared even worse than Rios, slumping 6-4 6-4 to Juan Balcells in his opener.

Rios, the former world number one on the comeback from injury, came straight from the airport to play his opener, but could not match Di Pasquale.

Di Pasquale said: "This was a very good win. I knew that he had just come from winning in Doha and that he must be really tired."

Second seed Dominik Hrbaty made no mistakes, though, disposing of Italian qualifier Andrea Gaudenzi 7-5 6-3.

The Slovak faces Argentine Mariano Zabaleta in the second round.