AUCKLAND, New Zealand - Belgian veterans Olivier Rochus and Xavier Malisse both beat higher-ranked opponents on Monday to advance to the second round of the Heineken Open.
Rochus, who reached the Auckland final for the second time last year but needed a wild card to enter the main draw on his current singles ranking of 89, outlasted 51st-ranked Albert Ramos of Spain 6-2, 5-7, 6-2.
The 30-year-old Belgian's victory in a match which lasted 2 hours, 14 minutes, improved his record in singles in Auckland to 14-7.
Earlier, 32-year-old Malisse, ranked 62, beat seventh seeded Martin Klizan of Slovakia, ranked 30, 7-6 (4), 3-6, 6-4.
Eighth-seeded Thomasz Bellucci of Brazil stopped a Belgian clean sweep by beating David Goffin 7-6 (5), 6-2.
