Tursunov Too Good for Danai

    2006 finalist Dmitry Tursunov began his follow-up campaign at the Countrywide Classic with a win over Thai Danai Udomchoke 6-1, 6-4 on Monday as German Nicolas Kiefer made a return to hard-court play.

     Kiefer, ranked 409 after missing a year of the ATP season from May, 2006 at the French Open, has not played on cement since March of last year in Miami.

      He returned to action after his career-threatening injury on grass at home in Halle, then reached the third round at Wimbledon while losing in the first round last week in Newport.

        The 29-year-old reached the second round over Russian Teimuraz Gabashvili 6-3, 6-3.

 Russian Tursunov, beaten in the 2006 final by German Tommy Haas, was joined as a seeded winner by Korean number seven Lee Hyung-taik, who defeated American Kevin Kim 6-3, 6-2.

        Third seed Marat Safin squeezed out a late night win over Australian Chris Guccione 6-3, 6-7 (4-7), 7-6 (7-2) as the Russian won his first match since changing coaches after Wimbledon in hopes of lifting his former world number one game.

         German Michael Berrer played on hard court for the first time since an Australian Open first round, defeating American Amir Delic, seeded eighth, 6-4, 6-4.

          Kiefer was pleased to be back on court as he played the event for the where he lost the 2004 final to compatriot Haas.

         "I was out for a long time, it's important to win again," said Kiefer, who next plays the winner from fourth seed David Nalbandian and Russian Igor Kunitsyn.

         "I'm having to fight for each match, but it helps a lot coming back to a place where you have good memories," the former finalist said.

           "I just need a few matches and some wins. Everything is good with my wrist."

   The event lost Frenchman Fabrice Santoro, winner of the weekend grass-event in Newport, who withdrew with fatigue, replaced by Philip King of the US.

        Austrlaian Open finalist Fernando Gonzalez and American James Blake will be searching for returns to form after poor 2007 campaigns as they play first-round matches on Tuesday. dpa