NEW YORK -- Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic began the U.S. Open with a straight-set victory against Hugo Armando on Wednesday, one year after one of his most demoralizing losses.

Top seed Gustavo Kuerten fought his way into the second round with a 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 victory against Czech Daniel Vacek.

Ivanisevic, who won his first Grand Slam as a wild card in an epic five-set match against Patrick Rafter, had an easier start at the Open, defeating Armando 6-4, 6-4, 6-3.

A year to the day after he flamed out in the first round of the Open and wondered about his tennis future, Ivanisevic flourished.

There were 22 aces on a serve that averaged 118 mph. He was occasionally inconsistent, committing 27 unforced errors and nine double faults.

But it was a much better performance than a year ago, when he won just one game in the last three sets against Dominik Hrbaty and said he felt lost on the court.

This time he was smiling broadly, waving to fans between points and thoroughly enjoying himself. "It was great, so many people watching," he said

Kuerten, a triple French Open champion who stumbled at the first stage here last year, was kept on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court for two hours and 20 minutes by the serve and volleyer Vacek.

"It was a good match to get used to the tournament. Last year was tough, I lost in the first round so I was a little bit nervous," admitted the popular Brazilian.

"It was tight, I survived," said Kuerten, who belted 18 aces and amassed an impressive 64 winners.

"I'm very happy today. I can play one more match here," Kuerten said.

For the third straight day, there were no upsets among the top players. In the night match, two-time champion Patrick Rafter won 17 of the last 20 games to beat Christophe Rochus 7-5, 6-2, 6-1.