Bruguera Opens with Win at Seniors Rome

Two-time French Open winner Sergi Bruguera opened with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Claudio Mezzadri of Switzerland on the opening day Saturday at the Merrill Lynch Tour of Champions event in Rome.

"I played great today and I've kept my form from Barcelona where I played very well," said Bruguera of his first senior title of 2006. "Form comes and goes a lot though from one week to the next so it's hard to know how you'll play."

Bruguera won Roland Garros twice but never captured the Italian Open in Rome during his ATP playing days.

Other winners were Renzo Furlan who thrilled the Italian crowd with his 2006 debut win over Cedric Pioline in a third-set champions tiebreak, and Henri Leconte beating Carl-Uwe Steeb, 6-3, 7-6(4).

Bruguera looks to raise his No. 4 current standing, behind No. 1 Marcelo Rios, No. 2 Jim Courier and No. 3 John McEnroe.

On court Sunday are McEnroe vs. Pat Cash, Steeb vs. Mezzadri, and Bruguera vs. Leconte.

2006 TENNIS-X.COM COMBINED SENIOR RANKINGS
(through May 7)

1. Marcelo Rios (800 pts.)
2. Jim Courier (600)
3. John McEnroe (575)
4. Sergi Bruguera (480)
5T. Pat Cash (450)
5T. Cedric Pioline (450)
7T. Richard Krajicek (400)
7T. Todd Martin (400)
9. Thomas Muster (375)
10. Carlos Costa (250)

The Tennis-X.com Combined Senior Rankings is a cumulative ranking for senior tour players combining results from the Merrill Lynch Tour of Champions in Europe, and the Outback Champions Series in the U.S.