Key Biscayne, FL (Sports Network) - Former world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt was a
first-round winner Wednesday, as the men's portion of the lucrative Sony Open
got underway on Wednesday.
The two-time Grand Slam champion Hewitt got past Portuguese Joao Sousa 6-1,
7-6 (7-3) on the hardcourts at Crandon Park.
Meanwhile, quality Frenchman Michael Llodra handled compatriot Benoit Paire
7-6 (9-7), 6-2, capable Belgian Xavier Malisse edged out American Rajeev Ram
6-4, 6-7 (6-8), 6-4, and Austrian veteran Jurgen Melzer overcame Lithuanian
Ricardas Berankis 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-1) on Day 1.
Additional wins came for Czech Lukas Rosol, Indian Somdev Devvarman, Romanian
Victor Hanescu, German Tobias Kamke, Dutchman Igor Sijsling, Slovenian Grega
Zemlja, and Spaniard Albert Ramos. Kamke's second-round opponent will be last
week's Indian Wells runner-up and former U.S. Open champ Juan Martin del
Potro.
This week's top seed and two-time defending champion Novak Djokovic beat 2009
titlist Andy Murray in last year's finale in Miami. The Australian Open
champion Djokovic and U.S. Open titlist Murray are the top seeds at this 12-
day tournament.
Two-time champion Roger Federer and last week's Indian Wells titlist Rafael
Nadal decided against playing here.
The winner of this $4.169 Masters 1000 event will claim $719,160.
The Sports Network