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Ivanisevic wins 1st singles match in 8 months

2001 Wimbledon champ hits 25 aces in three sets

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updated 7:27 p.m. ET Feb. 10, 2004

MILAN, Italy - Goran Ivanisevic won his first singles match in eight months, hitting 25 aces in a 7-6 (2), 3-6, 7-6 (3) victory over Bohdan Ulihrach at the Milan Indoors on Tuesday.

The 2001 Wimbledon champion has been hindered by shoulder, elbow and knee injuries. His last tour singles match was a first-round loss to Jan Vacek at the Queen’s Club tournament in June.

“I really surprised myself and perhaps also my opponent. ... I served very well and nothing hurts. I feel no pain,” said Ivanisevic, a wild-card entry at the Milan tournament, which he won in 1996-97.

On Monday, he teamed with Andreas Seppi to defeat Raemon Sluiter and Martin Verkerk 2-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4 in doubles.

Ivanisevic faces third-seeded Tommy Robredo in the second round.

Another major champion returning from injury, Thomas Johansson, also reached the second round, while top-seeded Jiri Novak pulled out with a strained calf.

Johansson, who won the 2002 Australian Open, eliminated Nikolay Davydenko 6-3, 6-4. It’s Johansson’s second tour event since missing all of the 2003 season after left knee surgery.

In other first-round matches, Mario Ancic beat Australian Open doubles champion Fabrice Santoro 6-2, 6-3, and Gregory Carraz got past qualifier Vincenzo Santopadre 6-7 (8), 6-3, 6-3.

© 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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