CINCINNATI. Aug 7: World number one Boris Becker made a successful

tournament play with a straight

second set victory at the 1.3 million dollar ATP Championship on Tuesday, reports Reuter.

The top-seeded Becker, who received a first round bye. defeated Frenchman Jean-Phillipe Fleurian 6-3. 6-3 in his first match since losing the Wimbledon final Io fellow German Michael Stich.

Becker had little trouble making the transition from grass to hardcourt and the lack of match play over the past month did not appear to adversely affect his performance.

Tm surprised how well I started." Becker said. 'There were some close games, but the important points I played well."

All the other matches in a programme delayed by nearly six hours of heavy rain were first round encounters.

Thi rteenth - seeded

American Michael Chang struggled early then cruised through the second and third sets on his way to a 4-6. 6-2. 6-1 over Rodolphe Gilbert.

Brad Gilbert, seeded 12th. fought off fellow American Brad Pearce 7-5. 6-3 to reach the second round, but ninth seed Emilio Sanchez of Spain proved no match on hard court for Australian Jason Stoltenberg and fell 6-3. 6-4

Second seed Stefan Edberg, third seed Ivan Lendl, fourth seed Jim Courier and fifth seed Andre Agassi were all scheduled to open with second round matches on Wednesday.

Becker was the first to face break point tn his match with the 65th-ranked Fleurian.

The Frenchman had two chances to go ahead in the

fourth game, but Becker saved both break points. Flueurian s error in the next game — an errant groundstroke long at 30-40 — gave Becker the nec essary edge to take the first set.

Becker looked equally comfortable in the second set as he broke Fleurian s serve in the sixth game and held that advantage to secure his victory

After the match Becker said his loss at Wimbledon had provided added incentive as he prepares for the US Open later this month.

"The fact I lost to another German in a tournament I al ways do well at was not easy to cope with." Becker admitted.

That loss lifted my spirits because I belive I'm a better player than him and 1 want to prove It"

Another seeded player unseated was No. 15 Richey Rcneberg. defeated by Aaron Krickstein. ranked 50th on the ATP Tour computer.

"It's nice to win a first-rounder like that, but physically you'd like them to be a little easier." Krickstein said after his two-hour. 23-mlnutes 7-6. 3-6. 7-6 victory. "But when you're not seeded. You've got to expect some tough matches right off the bat. especially In a tournament as good as this one."

Some of the 33.630 first day fans preferred to watch the stars practice. Former champions Ivan Lendl and Brad Gilbert drew autographseeking crowds to the outside courts, as did Andre Agassi

Edberg, who has reached the final here four straight years, plays qualifier Grant Stafford in his first match Wednesday, then would play either Jarryd or Amos Mansdorf if he wins. He won't face a seeded player until the quarterfinals if be captures his first two matches.