Beijing Olympic Games

Updated: 2008-06-17

(BEIJING, June 17) — Defending champion Ivan Ljubicic and No 2 seed Richard Gasquet enjoyed straight sets victories in the opening round of the men’s singles at the Ordina Open at Autotron Rosmalen, Netherlands - the last tune-up tournament before the Wimbledon Championships in England.

Fourth seed, Ljubicic beat Dutch favorite Robin Haase 6-3, 7-6(7-5) to progress. Although the crowd was behind Haase, Ljubicic served eight aces with his powerful service play and he won the match in one hour and seventeen minutes.

Last year, the Croatian player beat another Dutch player, Peter Wessels, in the final at Autoron and will now face Serbian teenager Viktor Troicki in the second round, who defeated Denis Gremelmayr of Germany, 6-3 7-5 to set up the tie.

Frenchman Gasquet beat Olivier Rochus of Belgium 6-2, 7-6(3) in a match lasting one hour and thirty-three minutes, and served seven aces. He will now meet fellow Frenchman Marc Gicquel in the next round who defeated Dutchman, Matwe Middelkoop 6-4, 6-1.

In a previous clash at 2006 Grand Prix de Tennis de Lyon Gasquet came out on top, but Gicquel was a finalist for 2007 in Lyon, but lost to another Frenchman, Sebastien Grosjean, the current World No 4.

The Ordina Open is staged June 15 - 21 and is the only international grass court tennis tournament in the Netherlands.