Hewitt advances in San Jose

California - Former world number one Lleyton Hewitt rallied from a set down to defeat Blaz Kavcic 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) in their first round encounter at the SAP Open on Tuesday.

The Australian veteran trailed 3-6, 1-3 and faced a break point before rallying to take the second set. He was also in trouble in the decider but battled back to win in two hours and 35 minutes.

The win for the 31-year-old Hewitt, who advances to play third-seeded American Sam Querrey in the second round, follows two previous defeats to Kavcic.

Hewitt is one of three former champions competing at the San Jose tournament along with two-time reigning champion Milos Raonic of Canada and 2010 winner Fernando Verdasco.

In other action on Tuesday, Benjamin Becker overcame Ryan Harrison 6-7 (3/7), 7-5, 6-3 and Vasek Pospisil cruised past Evgeny Donskoy 7-5, 6-1.

Pospisil did not face a break point, winning 31 of his 35 first serve points. He next squares off against second seed John Isner.