Melzer avoids upset bug at Austrian Open

KITZBUHEL, Austria, May 19 (UPI) -- Local favorite Jurgen Melzer cruised to an easy first-round win Tuesday when four other seeded players were upset at the clay-court Austrian Open.

Melzer, who lives in Austria, raced by Frederico Gil, 6-3, 6-0, in 54 minutes and advanced to the second round. Melzer lost just one point on serve in the second-set whitewash.

While the second-seeded Melzer won, four seeded players were ousted Tuesday from the tournament that saw top-seeded Nikolay Davydenko withdraw Monday with a foot injury.

Fifth-seeded Martin Vassallo Arguello was beaten, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, by Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in a second-round match.

In first-round play, No. 4 seed Fabrice Santoro was defeated, 6-2, 6-3, by Oscar Hernandez while No. 6-seeded Marc Gicquel lost, 5-7, 6-3, 6-0, to Juan Ignacio Chela and eighth-seeded Dudi Sela fell, 7-5, 6-1, to Julien Benneteau.

Also posting first-round wins Tuesday were Diego Junqueira, Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo and Stefan Koubek.

The clay-court tournament serves as a final tuneup for the French Open, which begins Monday.