Sampras, who recently lost to the Indian ace Leander Paes in the Pilot Pen International tourney, was in total command in his 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 win.

Ivanisevic, who also fell to Sampras in this summer's Wimbledon final, crashed 23 aces past Woodforde during the one hour, 27-minute match.

While the lanky, goateed Croat was dismissing Woodforde, former world number one Muster, of Austria, mustered his ground-stroking arsenal to oust 15th-seeded clay courter Alberto Berasategui of Spain, the 1994 French Open runner-up, 7-6 (7-1) 6-2 6-3.

On the women's side, top-seeded Martina Hingis of Switzerland was due to follow Sampras and begin defence of herOpen crown with a Centre Court test against Aleksandra Olsza of Poland.

Early women's winners included 11th-seeded Patty Schnyder of Switzerland, who beat Japan's Yuka Yoshida 7-6 (7-5) 7-5, Poland's Magdalena Grzybowska, Americans Kimberly Po and Laura Granville.

Results

Men's singles: (1st round) 1-Pete Sampras bt Marc Goellner 6-3, 6-2, 6-2; Thomas Muster bt 15-Alberto Berasategui 7-6 (7-1) 6-2 6-3; 14-Goran Ivanisevic bt Mark Woodforde 6-3 6-4 6-4; Gustavo Kuerten bt Noam Behr 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4; Davide Sanguinettei bt James Sekulov 6-4, 6-4, 6-2; Michael Tillstorm bt Andrew PArk 7-5, 6-3, 6-1; MArtin Damm bt Sjeng Schalken 6-3, 6-3, 7-5.

Women's singles: (Ist round) Magdalena Grzybowska bt Katarina Studenikova 6-0 6-1; Kimberly Po bt Kerry-Anne Guse 6-4 6-1; Laura Granville bt Paola Suarez 6-4 6-4; 11-Patty Schnyder bt Yuka Yoshida 7-6 (7-5) 7-5; Miho Saeki bt Jill Craybas 6-1, 2-6, 6-3; Sung-hee Park bt Lenka Nemeckova 1-6, 6-3, 6-4; Amelie Mauresmo bt Ludmila Richterova 6-2,6-1; Sandrine Testud bt Shi-ting Wang 6-0, 6-2; Evegenia Koulikovskaya bt Sandra Kleinova 4-6, 6-1, 6-3.