Las Vegas, Nevada – Defending champion Lleyton Hewitt, the second seed, got off to a great start with a convincing 6-2, 6-1 victory over struggling tennis star Marat Safin of Russia. Through to the second round, Lleyton Hewitt next faces the winner of Jonas Bjorkman vs. Julien Benneteau. Meanwhile, fourth seed Guillermo Canas of Argentina advanced with a win over Tomas Johansson of Sweden 6-3, 7-6(3), and eighth seed, German Nikolas Kiefer topped compatriot Benjamin Becker 6-4, 6-3.