Verdasco wins, Fish out at Brisbane

BRISBANE, Australia, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- Spain's Fernando Verdasco, the No. 3 seed, was a first-round winner Monday in Australia's Brisbane International tournament.

Verdasco defeated Bernard Tomic of Australia 6-4, 6-2 in a match that lasted just over an hour.

The tournament, formerly played in Adelaide, is the season-opener on the ATP tour.

In other matches involving seeded players Jurgen Melzer of Australia knocked out American Mardy Fish, the sixth seed, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7-4). Eighth-seeded Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic advanced with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Igor Kunitsyn of Russia.

The top seed, Serb Novak Djokovic, opens play Tuesday against Ernests Gulbis of Latvia.