Sluiter Books Hewitt Date; Sanguinetti to Meet Henman

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Raemon Sluiter booked his place in the second round against top seed and three-time defending champion Lleyton Hewitt after defeating Romania's Adrian Voinea on the first day of action at the Stella Artois Championships.

The Dutchman, who reached the semifinals at The Queen's Club last year before losing to Tim Henman in three sets, came through 7-6(3), 6-3 against Voinea.

Sluiter reached the final in Rotterdam earlier this year, defeating Martin Verkerk, Jarkko Nieminen, Juan Carlos Ferrero (retired) and Sebastien Grosjean before losing to Max Mirnyi. He has also won his only previous meeting against Hewitt, recording a 6-3, 6-3 victory over the Australian in Stockholm in 2002.

Italy's David Sanguinetti earned his place in the second round against Henman after overcoming German Alexander Waske 7-6(5), 7-6(1).

Sanguinetti, who won two titles last year in Milan and Delray Beach, has a 0-2 record against Henman, although both matches went three sets. The two last met on carpet in Rotterdam in 1999, and this will be their first meeting on grass.

Meanwhile, Mario Ancic set up a meeting with fourth seed Paradorn Srichaphan after a convincing 6-2, 6-1 victory over Austria's Julian Knowle. Ancic, the Croatian who upset Roger Federer at last year's Wimbledon Championships, took just 55 minutes to book his place in the second round.

Jarkko Niemenen, the No. 9 seed, needed even less time on court in his opening match as he defeated Karol Beck 6-2, 6-1 in 48 minutes. Finland's No. 1 now takes on either John Van Lottum or Marc Rosset in the second round.

Elsewhere on day one, South African Rik De Voest defeated fellow qualifier Petr Luxa to earn his place in the second round, where he will meet third seed Andy Roddick.

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