Hewitt suffers historic Open defeat

Lleyton Hewitt became the first Australian Open top seed ever to lose in the first round of the men's singles on Tuesday when he was sensationally dumped out by journeyman Spaniard Alberto Martin 1-6, 6-1, 6-4, 7-6.

The world number one, recovering from a bout of chicken pox, received courtside treatment for blisters and had his thighs massaged, as he lost to a player who before this year had won just one match in four visits to the Open.

"I was not 100 percent out there... I am not as disappointed as I have been in other matches I've lost because I knew that," said Hewitt.

"Everyone knows that for my game I need strength and speed and I didn't have that.

"I am not Superman, I can't do anything about that.

"At the end of that first set I felt like I had hit a wall and that was a strange feeling for me. There is no way I would have played if it had been a regular tour event.

"But there you go...there are another three grand slam events this year."

Hewitt had been the first home male seeded one at the Melbourne grand slam since Ken Rosewall in 1976. That year, Rosewall lost in the second round.

One of the biggest shock results in the history of the tournament leaves the first grand slam of the year without its top two seeds after Gustavo Kuerten lost to Julien Boutter on Monday.

Tournament officials were already reeling after losing three of their biggest drawcards on day one of the tournament as last year's champion Andre Agassi and women's fifth seed Serena Williams withdrew injured before hitting a ball.

Former champion Mary Pierce, a fans' favourite in Melbourne also pulled out with an injury.

Earlier on Tuesday the Open lost another major drawcard when Anna Kournikova was beaten 6-2, 7-5 by sixth seed Justine Henin.

But defending women's champion Jennifer Capriati worked her way into the second round safely with a comfortable 6-4, 6-1 victory over Croatia's Silvija Talaja.

CHICKEN POX

She was joined in round two by fellow American and twice champion Pete Sampras as the eighth seed cruised past grand slam debutant Jarkko Nieminen 6-3, 6-3, 6-4.

On the Rod Laver Arena court Hewitt's chicken pox spots had gone but so, it seemed, had the fire and grit which have made the 20-year-old world number one.

He steamed confidently through the first set 6-1 before Martin had chance to settle in an unfamiliar show court surrounding.

The Spaniard, who reached his first-ever hardcourt semifinal in Adelaide earlier this month, found his feet, though, and began to get good depth on his groundstrokes.

He hit back to level in impressive fashion before snatching the third set when more and more errors crept into Hewitt's game.

Hewitt received treatment for blisters and had a thigh massage in the fourth set as he lacked his usual aggression and fight.

HISTORIC VICTORY

Hewitt held serve to force a tiebreak but Martin, who also had thigh massage on the side of the court while 5-4 ahead, won the next two points for an historic victory.

Capriati was more impressive, signalling her intention to fight off all challengers at Melbourne Park with a solid and determined win.

She briefly stuttered early in her match against a player who, while currently at 103 in the world, was once ranked as high as world number 18 two years ago.

But after edging the opening set she pulled away in the second with some heavier hitting and powerful serves.

"Now being seeded number one and being number one I like the feeling and I want to try and keep it for a while," Capriati said.

"I just want to set a new goal for myself and take myself to a new level."

Sampras, whose chances of winning a 14th grand slam title were boosted when last year's winner Andre Agassi pulled out of his quarter of the draw on Monday with an injury, looked untroubled on Rod Laver Arena court.

His experience told against the Finn as he kept his nose in front throughout.

"I was pretty pleased...I set the tone early on," said Sampras. "He came out a little nervous and I took advantage of that."