MOSCOW. Nov 10(Reuters/ Internet): Zimbabwe's Byron Black, the only seed in action on the opening day of the $1.125 million Kremlin Cup, eliminated Czech's Martin Damm 6-2 6-3 on Monday.

"I always play well here." said Black, playing in Moscow for the fifth time in six years. "I like Moscow, I like the surface here."

The fourth seed is joined in the Russian capital by brother Wayne, who reached the semifinals last year. Two weeks ago. sister Cara was In Moscow, playing In the WTA event.

In contrast. Andrei Medvedev is playing in Moscow for the first time since 1992 and the Ukrainian got a rude welcome from Frenchman Guillaume Raoux who beat him 7-6 (7-5) 6-4.

Medvedev blamed the loss on poor eye sight.

"I have only 28 percent vision in both of my eyes." said the Kiev player who once was ranked number four in the world but now has slipped to 61st.

Other first day winners in Moscow included Romanian Andrei Pavel. Dutchman SJeng Shalken and Frenchman Jerome Golmard.

After a tough first set tiebreak. Pavel beat Australian Todd Woodbridge 7-6 (7-4) 6-2, Shalken eliminated Russian doubles specialist Andrei Olkhovsky 7-5 6-4 and Golmard took care of Germany's David Prinosil 7-5 6-3.