Lleyton Hewitt opened 2008 in convincing fashion on Tuesday as he cruised past Israeli Dudi Sela 6-2, 6-2 in the first round of the Adelaide International.

The top-seeded Australian, who won the first title of his career in Adelaide ten years ago, needed just 65 minutes to record his opening win of the new season.

Second-seed Paul-Henri Mathieu beat fellow Frenchman Julien Benneteau 7-6, 7-5 in a first-round match that lasted two hours, 22 minutes. Chris Guccionehammered 23 aces as he beat Wayne Odesnik 7-5, 7-6. Third seed Jarkko Nieminen enjoyed a comfortable 6-2, 6-4 victory over Ivo Klec of Slovakia.

However, eighth seed Sebastien Grosjean suffered a shock defeat as he was ousted 6-4, 1-6 3-6 by veteran American Vince Spadea.

Vaidisova survives

Top seed Nicole Vaidisova survived a scare from home wildcard Casey Dellacqua before reaching the second round of the Australian Hardcourt Championships, reports Reuters from Gold Coast.

The 18-year-old Czech world number 12 dropped the first set to the Australian left-hander but came through to win 5-7, 7-5, 6-0. Seventh seed Sybille Bammer of Austria joined second seed Nadia Petrova, who lost on Monday, as a first-round victim when she was beaten 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 by China's Li Na.

Victoria Azarenka became the first woman through to the quarterfinals as she beat Ukrainian lucky loser Yulia Fedak. France's Virginie Razzano was beaten 6-2, 6-2 by 18-year-old Slovakian Dominika Cibulkova, while Italian Flavia Pennetta also advanced.

Zvonareva advances

Top seed Vera Zvonareva beat New Zealand wildcard Sacha Jones 6-0, 6-1 in the first round of the Auckland Classic, adds Reuters from Aukland. The Russian, who won the most recent of her five WTA Tour titles in July 2006, made light of a tricky wind and was far too good for Jones as she romped into round two.