The eighth-seeded Dutchman gained the only break of serve, in the fifth game of the first set.

Jim Courier, refreshed after taking a month off the tour, came from behind to beat Marc Rosset and advanced to the second round. Courier, ranked No 41, won 4-6, 7-6 (8-6), 6-2.

Seventh-seeded Nicolas Kiefer had to quit when he twisted his left ankle in the first set against Andrei Pavel in a second-round match. Magnus Larsson dropped out with a back injury, allowing fifth-seeded Greg Rusedski to advance to the third round. Three players have been forced to drop out of the tournament with injuries.

Another seeded player moved into the third round when No 13 Thomas Enqvist beat Michael Chang 6-4, 6-2.

Graf-Agassi steal show: The disappointment about the injury of Nicolas Kiefer turnedinto amazement on Tuesday at the Eurocard Open when Kiefer's mishap led to the first public appearance in Germany of the dream couple of Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi.

The retired Graf and world number 1 Agassi played on Centre Court for around 20 minutes before the evening session of the tournament in front of thrilled fans, who came streaming back into the hall from all areas of the compound so as not to miss the unique spectacle.

Kournikova advances

LINZ, AUSTRIA: Russia's Anna Kournikova beat Zimbabwe's Cara Black 6-4, 6-4 in the first round of the Generali tennis tournament.

OTHER RESULTS

Anne-Gaelle Sidot (France) bt Anke Huber (Germany) 6-2, 6-3; Sandrine Testud (France) bt Barbara Rittner (Germany) 7-5, 6-2; Denisa Chladkova (Czech Republic) bt Patricia Wartusch (Austria) 6-3, 6-2; Patty Schnyder (Switzerland) bt Joanette Kruger (South Africa) 6-2, 6-1; Sandra Kleinova (Czech Republic) bt Maria-Antonia Sanchez Lorenzo (Spain) 6-0, 6-3.