Injury-plagued Gustavo Kuerten launched his 2003 comeback with a straight sets victory over Dutch qualifier Martin Verkerk at the New Zealand Open on Tuesday night.

Kuerten, who suffered a miserable season last year dogged by problems to his hip, was made to work hard but eventually overcame his opponent 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 victory.

The 26-year-old Brazilian former world number one is anxious to make up for lost time this year, and cut short Christmas celebrations to allow a full build-up ahead of next week's Australian Open.

Kuerten said after his first round match his form appeared to be returning.

"I'm finding myself again," Kuerten said after his first singles outing in "60 or 70 days".

Kuerten's return was the highlight on a day which saw second seeded Argentinian David Nalbandian bundled out by compatriot Mariano Zabaleta in a gruelling two-hour slugfest.

Zabaleta, 24, fought back from a set down to win the second in a tiebreaker and go on to win the match 2-6 7-6 (7-3) 6-3 and book a second-round match against American Vince Spadea.

In other matches Fernando Gonzalez of Chile defeated Spaniard Feliciano Lopez 3-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-2.

Guillermo Coria ensured there would be at least one other Argentine in the second round when he beat Spaniard David Sanchez 2-6 6-2 6-4.

Any chance Zabaleta and Coria might have had of being joined in the last 16 by countryman Agustin Calleri ended when he went down 6-7 (5-7) 5-7 to American qualifier Robbie Ginepri.

American qualifier Michael Russell too triumphed with his 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 win over Czech Radek Stepanek.

In another surprise, eighth-seeded Italian David Sanguinetti rarely threatened in losing to Dutchman Raemon Sluiter 3-6 3-6.

Sixth-seeded American Jan-Michael Gambill won through comfortably 6-1 6-3 over unseeded Swiss Michel Kratochvil.

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