DOHA, Qatar, Jan. 1 (UPI) -- Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic needed three sets Tuesday to advance to the second round of the Qatar Open.
Ivanisevic, the second seed from Croatia, posted a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 victory over Austrian Stefan Koubek. He has played well at this event, reaching the final in 1993 and the semifinals on two other occasions.
Fourth seed Jiri Novak of the Czech Republic and No. 7 Rainer Schuettler also moved into the second round. Novak defeated Markus Hipfl, 6-3, 6-2, for his third win in his many meetings over the Austrian. Schuettler, champion here in 1999 and runner-up at year later, dispatched Finland's Jarkko Nieminen, 6-3, 6-2.
Also, Albert Montanes beat fellow Spaniard David Sanchez, 6-3, 6-2, Anthony Dupuis of France topped Andrea Gaudenzi of Italy, 6-3, 6-3, and Czech qualifier Radek Stepanek got past Christophe Rochus, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3.
