Ancic opens Ordina defence with win

DEN BOSCH, Netherlands, June 19 (Reuters) Defending champion Mario Ancic struggled to a 7-6 6-7 7-5 win over Pakistani qualifier Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi in the first round of the Ordina Open today.

At 6-5 in the final set, the towering Croat converted his only break point of the set to take the match, which lasted two hours and 43.

Ancic, seeded third, produced 18 aces in a match dominated by the two players' big serves.

''I expected a very tough match because I know Qureshi is a great grasscourt player,'' Ancic said.

''I think (he) played extremely well. He served an unbelievable serve and volley game...You're much more used to guys playing from the back, but he did it extremely well.'' Ancic's next opponent is Dutch wildcard entry Raemon Sluiter, who beat Robin Vik of the Czech Republic 1-6 6-3 6-2.

''We're great friends and I practised a lot here in Amsterdam. So we both know each other really well,'' Ancic said.

Dutch teenager Michaella Krajicek gave the home fans plenty to cheer in the women's event when she upset third seed Flavia Pennetta of Italy 7-5 6-3.

Krajicek, at 17 the youngest player in the tournament, broke Pennetta's serve early only to immediately give up her own service game.

The crowd favourite and younger sister of 1996 Wimbledon champion Richard Krajicek recovered to take Pennetta's serve again, and in the second set converted her third match point to advance into the second round of the Wimbledon warm-up event.

''This is one of the best wins of my career,'' said Krajicek, whose confidence had been bruised after a first-round loss at the French Open.

Krajicek will next meet defending champion Klara Koukalova, who beat Spanish qualifier Virginia Ruano Pascual 6-4 6-3.

REUTERS PDS BST0109