Ljubicic, Seppi Advance In Zagreb

© PBZ Zagreb IndoorsIvan Ljubicic improved to a 17-5 event record in Zagreb Monday.

Top seed Ivan Ljubicic edged Karol Beck 7-6(5), 3-6, 6-3 to win his opener at the PBZ Zagreb Indoors Monday in Zagreb.

Ljubicic fired 16 aces and converted his first break of serve of the match in the eighth game of the third set to lock up his first win of the season in two hours and 18 minutes. "It's really nice to get a win today. It wasn't easy," Ljubicic told ATPWorldTour.com. "I was playing against a player who can play great tennis, hit great shots, and that's exactly what happened today. I was serving well, which helped me hang in there all the way until the end. I played one good game where I managed to break him, and I escaped with a win."

The Croat is bidding to win his second title at the ATP World Tour 250 event, having won the debut tournament in 2006. "I really don't feel like the top seed," said Ljubicic. "I really need to win a few more matches to feel comfortable on the court, so I hope that I can do that. If I get to the weekend, I'll be one of the contenders, but it's a long way away."

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Fifth seed Andreas Seppi reached the second round, defeating Daniel Brands 6-4, 7-6(1) in one hour and 26 minutes. The Italian won 70 per cent of his service points, and lost serve just once to take the pair’s first FedEx ATP Head2Head meeting.

No. 7 seed Robin Haase broke wild card Kristijan Mesaros four times to win their first-round encounter 6-2, 6-3. Haase advanced in just 57 minutes.

Slovak Lukas Lacko struck 13 aces past Potito Starace of Italy for a 7-6(2), 6-7(4), 6-3 victory in two hours and 14 minutes. Lacko won 74 per cent of his service points, but managed just one break from four opportunities.

German Matthias Bachinger recorded his second victory of the year with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Izak van der Merwe of South Africa in 88 minutes. Bachinger hit six aces, dropped 13 points on serve and saved all five break points he faced.

World No. 41 Jurgen Melzer, who was forced to qualify for an ATP World Tour tournament for the first time in almost three-and-a-half years, has been drawn to meet his doubles partner, Philipp Petzschner, in the first round of the main draw. Former World No. 8 Melzer beat fellow Austrian Martin Fischer 6-3, 6-4 in the final round of qualifying.