Hewitt at home with opening Sydney win

The Australia, a four-time Sydney champion, subdued his opponent with 16 winners, 15 unforced errors and a few verbal serves at chair umpire Norm Chryst.

 Hewitt, seeded sixth, set up an all-Aussie clash with Davis Cup teammate Chris Guccione, who defeated Spain's Alberto Martin 7-6 (8-6), 6-4.

 "I missed this event in 2007 with a calf injury," the former world number one Hewitt said. "It nice to be through and I hope to keep going.

 "Mahut's a tough player with a big serve and like many Frenchmen he's flashy. It's good to get a win.

 "My main goal is Melbourne next week and this is a good preparation."

   In other opening matches at Homebush Bay, Czech Radek Stepanek upset second seed Tommy Robredo of Spain 6-4, 6-2. Russian Evgueni Korolov put out French seventh seed Paul-Henri Mathieu, who retired after losing the first set 6-1.

 Russian Dmitry Tursunov beat last weekend's Doha finalist Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland 6-3, 6-3.

 Women's number one Justine Henin didn't fire a shot in he first match of the season, reaching the quarter-finals as opponent Lucie Sarafova failed to front due to a strained buttock muscle.

 Belgium's Henin, who lifted five trophies in five events after Wimbledon last season, has won Sydney twice.

 Second-seeded Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova beat Shahar Peer of Israel 6-3, 6-4 and next plays Francesca Schiavone after the Italian upset Wimbledon finalist Marion Bartoli of France, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2.

 Serbian fourth seed Ana Ivanovic battled through three sets to advance against Virginie Razzano, 6-1, 2-6, 7-5. Ivanovic, a 2007 Roland Garros finalist, won the last five games over her French opponent.