Top seed Rainer Schuettler took revenge by beating Swede Robin Soderling 6-4, 7-6 in the first round of the Munich Open on Tuesday.
Schuettler, a losing finalist in the Monte Carlo Masters on Sunday, was made to work by an opponent who beat him in the Australian Open first round in January.
The German, who won a close tiebreak 7-5 in the second set to seal victory, next meets his compatriot Tommy Haas.
Wild card Haas had earlier delighted the home fans by crushing Czech Bohdan Ulihrach 6-3, 6-2.
Haas, who missed the whole of last season with a shoulder injury, put his injury woes behind him by stunning American Andy Roddick in the Houston final this month.
Thailand's Paradorn Srichaphan, seeded second but not a claycourt specialist, made an early exit, beaten 6-3, 6-2 by Belgian baseliner Oliver Rochus.
Goran Ivanisevic, the 2001 Wimbledon champion, lost in straight sets to unheralded German Alexander Waske in his first match in the Munich tournament.
Croatian Ivanisevic is struggling after a string of injury problems and has won just two matches this year.
Qualifier Waske won 6-4, 7-6 and will next meet American Vince Spadea, the fifth seed, who moved past German qualifier Dieter Kindlmann 6-4, 6-2.
