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Brisbane - Top seeded American Andy Roddick used his booming serve to overpower a brave Peter Luczak of Australia 7-6 (7/5), 6-2 in the first round of the Brisbane International on Monday.
World number seven Roddick was forced to dig deep against an inspired Luczak, who matched the American shot for shot throughout the first set.
Luczak then had a mini-break in the first set tie-break but was unable to convert and Roddick fought back with his huge serve to claim the opening set.
Roddick then lifted his play a notch to break his opponent twice in the second set and ease his way into the second round.
Earlier defending champion Radek Stepanek easily demolished Australian wild card John Millman 6-4, 6-0.
Millman, who hails from Brisbane, kept pace with Stepanek over the early stages but once the world number 12 found his range, not even the raucous home crowd could help the young Australian.
Stepanek has not had much of a break since he played in the Davis Cup final against Spain in early December, but said he was feeling strong ahead of the Australian summer.
"I haven't had much time to rest or prepare because I went straight back to practice, but I am feeling great," he said.
"I have a great season in the bag, the best in my career so far, and I want to continue what I've been doing and make it back to the top 10."
Richard Gasquet put an emotional year behind him when he battled for two hours to defeat Finland's Jarkko Nieminen 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 in the first match on centre court.
Gasquet, who only learned in December that he had been cleared of a doping offence, said he had enjoyed being able to play without the threat of suspension.
"I could have won, I could have lost, but it was most important to play relaxed," he said.
The only upset of the day came when Colombia's Alejandro Falla downed seventh seeded Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-4, 6-4.
Brazil's Thomaz Bellucci, the eighth seed, was too good for Argentina's Juan Ignacio Chela 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 while Israel's Harel Levy thrashed Frenchman Michael Llodra 6-2, 6-0.
