Hewitt makes strong start

Top seed too good for Israeli in Australia

Last updated: 2nd January 2008

Hewitt makes strong start

Hewitt: Easy win

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Lleyton Hewitt began the year in convincing fashion with a 6-2 6-2 win over Dudi Sela in Adelaide.

The top seed, who won this event in 1998 and 2000, needing just 65 minutes to record his first victory of the season.

Hewitt, who has been working hard with new coach Tony Roche over the last two months, was much too strong for world number 64 Sela.

He produced an impressive performance to set up a second-round meeting with Jose Acasuso, who beat Alejandro Falla 7-6 6-3.

Second seed Paul-Henri Mathieu also progressed, beating fellow Frenchman Julien Benneteau 7-6 7-5 in a match lasting two hours and 22 minutes in sweltering heat.

Mathieu, who ended the year at a career-high ranking of 25, will play Australian wildcard Chris Guccione in the second round.

Guccione, last year's runner-up, cracked 23 aces on his way to a 7-5 7-6 win over Wayne Odesnik.

Third seed Jarkko Nieminen enjoyed a comfortable 6-2 6-4 victory over Ivo Klec of Slovakia, while Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Evgeny Korolev also won.