Lleyton Hewitt won't get much of a chance to ease his way back onto the ATP tennis tour, the Australian having a potentially tough first round match against Sargis Sargsian at the adidas International.

The former world No.1, who hasn't played a tour match since last year's US Open in September, meets a player who has risen to a career high ranking of 39 in the world.

Sargsian downed Mark Philippoussis at last year's Australian Open and also beat current world No.1 Andy Roddick at the French Open.

Todd Reid, fresh from his quarterfinal showing at the AAPT Championships in Adelaide is the other Australian man in action.

The former Wimbledon junior champion also has a difficult first up opponent in sixth seed Nicolas Massu.

The Chilean rose from 102 in the world last year to a current ranking of number 12.

Under fire Brit Greg Rusedski, who could face a ban of up to two years after testing positive to nandrolone, plays Juan Ignacio Chela.

The Argentine was suspended for three months in 2001 when he tested positive to steroids.

Unheralded Australian Cindy Watson takes on American Chanda Rubin in a night match while legend Martina Navratilova begins what is expected to be her swan song year when she teams up with Lisa Raymond in the doubles.

In opening round women's action Australia's Nicole Pratt fell at the first hurdle, losing to Vera Zvonareva 6-2 6-3 while Russians Anastasia Myskina and Elena Bovina were the other winners.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP