Rios Dusts Krajicek on Clay at Seniors Paris

Richard Krajicek on clay was never really a great idea, even during his playing days, though the Wimbledon winner did win one career dirt title on the ATP tour at Barcelona.

On Thursday at the Merrill Lynch Tour of Champions stop in Paris, it again wasn't a good match-up for the Dutchman as Marcelo Rios gave him a claycourt lesson 6-1, 6-4 on the opening day of round-robin play.

"It's really nice to play here on clay," said Rios, who has won all four of the senior tour events he has competed in this year. "Claycourt tennis is real tennis. I was brought up on clay so it's nice for me to be here in Paris again on clay."

Rios also beat Krajicek in both of their career ATP meetings, on clay at Rome in 1998 and at the Stuttgart-indoor in 1996. All four of the Chilean's senior titles this year have been on hardcourts.

Goran Ivanisevic also advanced on the day but was exhausted after fighting Guy Forget and the Frenchman's home crowd support, edging out a 7-6(2), 6-7(5), 10-8 win.

"I'm dead," Ivanisevic said after the match. "He played like a 20-year-old kid. I couldn't believe I lost 16 points in a row. Every match here is tough. The court is very fast. I play Cedric (Pioline) tomorrow and I'm looking forward to that."

Pioline is 1-0 after a 6-2, 6-7(6), 10-1 win over French Open champ Sergi Bruguera, blowing match points in the second set before closing it out in the final tiebreak.

Thomas Muster overcame a stiff neck to beat Pat Cash 6-4, 6-2.

"It's never easy to play the first match," Muster said. "Physically I should be better tomorrow. I am a bit handicapped with my movement because I've got a sore neck at the moment. Krajicek (his next opponent) has a big serve, the courts are fast and slippery, so there probably won't be many long rallies."

Matching-up on Friday will be Cash vs. Rios, Ivanisevic vs. Pioline, Bruguera vs. Forget, and Krajicek vs. Muster.