Andreev, Robredo advance in Sydney

SYDNEY, Jan. 12 (UPI) -- Russian Igor Andreev and Spain's Tommy Robredo notched first-round wins Monday at the Medibank International, a final hardcourt tune-up for the Australian Open.

Andreev, seeded fifth, eliminated Canadian qualifier Frank Dancevic 7-6 (7-2), 6-3, while Robredo, a former Top 10 player who is seeded seventh, dismissed Austrian Jurgen Melzer 6-3, 6-4 at Sydney International Tennis Centre.

In other first-round play, Italian Simone Bolelli defeated countryman Potito Starace 7-6 (7-1), 6-4; Finn Jarkko Nieminen beat Spaniard Feliciano Lopez 6-2, 7-6 (11-9); Frenchman Michael Llodra breezed by German qualifier Denis Gremelmayr 6-0, 6-2; and Croat Mario Ancic overcame Belgian qualifier Xavier Malisse 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3.

Ancic will face Robredo in the Round of 16, while Bolelli will meet 2008 Aussie Open runner-up Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Llodra will play former Wimbledon finalist David Nalbandian.

The top seeds here this week are defending Aussie Open champ Novak Djokovic, Gilles Simon, Tsonga and Nalbandian.

Dmitry Tursunov bested Aussie Chris Guccione in last year's finale here.

The winner of the $484,750 event will take home $78,500.