Date:08/07/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/07/08/stories/2003070802072100.htm

Sport - Tennis

No problems for Novak

GSTAAD (Switzerland) JULY 7. Former champion Jiri Novak breezed past Sargis Sargsian 6-3, 6-3 in the opening round of the Swiss Open on Monday.

Novak, who reached the third round at Wimbledon for the first time in eight years, won the Swiss title in 2001 and couldn't defend it last year when he was sidelined by injury.

In the second round, the third-seeded Czech will face Paul-Henri Mathieu, who eliminated German qualifier Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3, 6-1.

The Wimbledon champion Roger Federer is due to play Spanish qualifier Marc Lopez on Tuesday.

The results: Juan Ignacio Chela bt Andre Sa 6-0, 6-2; Paul-Henri Mathieu bt Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3, 6-1; Jiri Novak bt Sargis Sargsian 6-3, 6-3; Christophe Rochus bt Michael Lammer 6-3, 7-5; Gaston Gaudio bt Kristof Vliegen 6-3, 6-4. — AP