Kuerten ends barren run

Three-time French Open winner Gustavo Kuerten ended an 18-month winless streak when he beat seventh-seeded Filippo Volandri 6-3, 6-1 in the first round of the Brazil Open.

The 30-year-old has struggled to recover from a right hip injury and surgery in 2004. His previous ATP-level victory was in August 2005 in the first round of the U.S. Open.

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Since then, Kuerten lost his only match in 2006 - at Costa do Sauipe - and two round-robin matches in Chile two weeks ago.

"I knew it was just a matter of time. I'm improving physically, and this win should give me more confidence," Kuerten said. "I was able to serve well and maintained a good rhythm."

The former No. 1, now ranked 1,076th and playing with a wild card, served 13 aces and needed only 46 minutes to eliminate Volandri.

Kuerten has won 20 ATP titles, including the Brazil Open in 2002 and 2004 and the French Open in 1997, 2000 and 2001.