STOCKHOLM (AFP) - Thomas Johansson, the last home winner four years ago of the 632,750-euro Stockholm Open, bowled over Belgian Xavier Malisse 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/1) to reach the second round.
The unseeded 29-year-old, the 2002 Australian Open champion, likes his chances at the Kungligahallen as he reconstructs a comeback season following a year away with knee surgery.
"I'm happy with how I played," he said. "I was able to change the pace of the match when I needed to. I want to show the fans that I can still play good tennis," said Johansson.
"If I keep playing like this, I think have a chance at another title."
Third seed Andrei Pavel and number eight Fernando Verdasco of Spain both advanced on a light day with the Tuesday arrival of top seed Andre Agassi imminent.
Romanian Pavel moved into the second round after his 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) defeat of Argentina's Agustin Calleri. Verdasco advanced when American Robby Ginepri pulled out with a lower back problem while trailing 6-2, 2-1.
American Jan-Michael Gambill handed Finn Jarkko Nieminen an unpleasant reminder of past poor performances.
Nieminen, who reached a surprise final as a qualifier in 2001, losing to Sjeng Schalken, has now lost in the first round for three consecutive years.
He went out to Gambill 7-6 (7/5), 3-6, 6-2 to keep that unwanted streak alive.
Swede Joachim Johansson, seeded second, opens Tuesday night against Chile's Adrian Garcia. Johansson, a US Open finalist, is pleased to have a non-travel
week.
"I'm happy to stay home, I live 30 minutes away form the event and I have a lot of friends coming to watch me, so I'm looking forward to that."
Andre Agassi was set to intensify his chase for a place in next month's eight-man Masters Cup after losing to Marat Safin in the semi-finals of the Madrid Masters.
Already on site for several days in the Swedish capital is Agassi's coach, Darren Cahill, who has been studying a tape of his charge's loss in Spain.
Together they will go over the defeat to Safin with a fine toochcomb ahead of Agassi's first first round match against Belgian Kristof Vliegen.
ATP officials on Monday confirmed Agassi's arrival, saying the eight-time Grand Slam champion had confirmed he would play after sounding somewhat disinterested in carrying on after his elimination in Madrid.
The veteran can start earning points to the good as soon as the second round and can only add to his total of 393 the farther he progresses.
Agassi is in provisional eighth place in a field from which Roger Federer, Andy Roddick and Lleyton Hewitt have already qualified.
Argentine Gaston Gaudio also has an entry by virtue of his French Open title.
Agassi has this week in Stockholm and next week at the concluding Paris Bercy Masters to book one of the four spots remaining.
10/25/2004 - 21:03 GMT - AFP