Ljubicic opens tournament defense with win

DOHA, Qatar, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Defending champion Ivan Ljubicic collected a straight-set win Monday in the opening round of the Qatar Open.

Ljubicic, seeded fourth, swept out Stefan Koubek 6-4, 6-4 at Doha's Khalifa Tennis Complex to open his play in the Australian Open tuneup event. Ljubicic improved to 14-2 at the Qatar Open. He defeated Andy Murray in last year's final after finishing second in 2004 and 2005.

Sixth-seeded Philipp Kohlschreiber knocked out Oscar Hernandez 6-3, 6-1 and Thomas Johansson posted an upset with a 6-1, 6-0 rout of No. 7-seeded Igor Andreev.

Also notching victories Monday were: Fabrice Santoro, Michael Berrer, Filippo Volandri and Lee Hyung-taik Lee.