Kuerten ends victory drought

AUCKLAND, New Zealand, Jan. 11 (UPI) -- Gustavo Kuerten of Brazil matched his 2002 title count Sunday, posting a straight-sets victory over Dominik Hrbaty of Slovakia at the Heineken Open.

Kuerten won just one title last season, enduring an injury-riddled campaign that saw him finish outside the top 10 for the first time since 1998. But he won his first event of 2003, defeating Hrbaty, 6-3, 7-5.

It was the 19th career title for Kuerten, a three-time French Open champion whose lone crown last year came in his home country. He claimed his fifth title on hard courts, improved to 1-2 lifetime against Hrbaty and collected $48,600.

Hrbaty was seeking his fourth career title and first since winning here in 2001.