Hewitt advances with Sony Open victory

MIAMI, March 20 (UPI) -- Former world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt was among the first-round winners Wednesday as the men's singles draw opened at the Sony Open in Miami.

Hewitt moved on with a 6-1, 7-6 (7-3) decision over Portuguese Joao Sousa at Crandon Park.

Also Wednesday, Michael Llodra of France advanced with a 7-6 (9-7), 6-2 win over compatriot Benoit Paire and Belgium's Xavier Malisse bested American Rajeev Ram 6-4, 6-7 (6-8), 6-4.

Other Day 1 victors included Austrian Jurgen Melzer, Czech Lukas Rosol, Indian Somdev Devvarman, Romanian Victor Hanescu, German Tobias Kamke, Igor Sijsling of the Netherlands, Slovenian Grega Zemlja and Spaniard Albert Ramos.