Rafter blasts Rusedski away

Pat Rafter made short work of Britain's Greg Rusedski

P Rafter (Aus) bt G Rusedski (GB) 6-3 6-2

Australian Pat Rafter showed Greg Rusedski how far the British star still has to go with a devastating display at the Masters Series at Indian Wells on Tuesday.

Rafter never seemed to be troubled by Rusedski and his remodelled serve in a match that did not last much more than an hour.

The Australian dominated the 27-year-old Rusedski with a sublime array of volleys and demonstrated how powerful his own serve could be, often grabbing perfect service games.

I thought I played really poorly. There's no question about it

  Greg Rusedski

Rafter gained the straight sets victory with the loss of only five games.

The win leaves the two-time US Open champion 6-3 ahead in his encounters with Rusedski.

"I thought I played really poorly. There's no question about it," said Rusedski.

As he pursues his third Masters Series title after victories at Montreal and Cincinnati in 1998, Rafter faces French qualifier Arnaud di Pasquale in the second round.

Elsewhere, Brazilian star Gustavo Kuerten extended his match winning streak to 13 with a straight sets victory over Cecil Mamit.

Kuerten beat the American qualifier 6-2 6-3 and is set to face wild card Taylor Dent, who dismissed Wayne Ferreira 6-3 6-0.

Australia's Sixth seeded Lleyton Hewitt gained some revenge for last year's defeat to Spain in Davis Cup final with a 6-2 5-7 6-1 victory over Spanish star Albert Costa.

Rusedski was shot down by Rafter

Sweden'sThomas Johansson used a patient attack to wear down injured second seed Marat Safin, of Russia, 7-5 7-5.

Safin, the reigning US Open champion, was hampered by a back injury he suffered last week while playing in Dubai and could barely lift his racket over his head.

American wildcard Mardy Fish shocked number 15 Mark Philippoussis 6-4 6-7 (7-2) 6-4.

Russia's Yevgeny Kafelnikov won a duel of former number one-ranked players when he beat Chile's Marcelo Rios 6-4 7-5.

In other matches, another Spaniard Fernando Vicente ambushed American Chris Woodruff 6-2 6-3, and Fabrice Santoro, of France, ousted Italian qualifier Andrea Gaudenzi 6-0 6-3.