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Updated at 7:24 a.m., Monday, December 31, 2007

Tennis: Belgium's Malisse wins Chennai Open opener

By SANDEEP NAKAI
AP Sports Writer

CHENNAI, India — Xavier Malisse of Belgium began the defense of his Chennai Open title today by outplaying Luxembourg's Gilles Muller 6-4, 6-3.

Fourth-seeded Mikhail Youzhny of Russia started with a 6-3, 6-2 drubbing of Czech Republic's Jiri Vanek and sixth-seeded Austrian Jurgen Melzer sailed into the second round with 6-2, 6-4 victory over Paul Capdeville of Chile.

Also advancing to the second round were two French players, Florent Serra and Edouard Roger-Vasselin.

Serra moved up with a 6-4, 7-6 (6) victory over Ivan Navarro of Spain, while Roger-Vasselin outplayed Indian wild card Vishnu Vardhan 6-1, 6-2.

Winner of both the singles and doubles title last year in the ATP Tour's first week, Malisse was returning to competitive tennis after a wrist injury restricted him to just two matches during the past 10 months.

Malisse, whose ATP Tour ranking slumped to 112 during his injury-forced absence, held his service throughout the match and effected three breaks on 117th-ranked Muller's service.

An erratic start saw Muller drop the opening service, which was enough for Malisse to win the first set. The second set featured two breaks by Malisse in the third and ninth games.

"Winning again was a good feeling as I was playing after a long time," said Malisse

"It was really nice to be back," he said. "Starting the new year with a victory helps in regaining the confidence."

Malisse said this week would mark the return of most players from a two-month break, but he had been missing from action much longer.

"All players are starting again this week, but one is never sure coming out of injury," said Malisse, who made a dramatic entry into the stadium in an auto rickshaw.

"I don't know if any player has ever been brought to the court in an auto rickshaw," he said.

Youzhny rallied after dropping an early service point that conceded a 3-1 lead to Vanek in the first set. Youzhny shot back to claim the next five points.

World-ranked 19th, Youzhny went on to break Vanek in the third and fifth games of the second set.

"The first match of the year is always difficult," said Youzhny. "I did not serve well at the beginning and took time to get into rhythm."