Ivanisevic, a first-round loser at the US Open in three of the last four years, ripped past Australian doubles specialist Mark Woodforde 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 with the sun pouring down on Centre Court at Arthur Ashe stadium.

``The last time I won the first round I made the semis,'' said Ivanisevic, recalling his 1996 Open campaign that ended with a defeat against eventual champion Pete Sampras. ``Maybe this is a good sign.''

Ivanisevic, who also fell to Sampras in this summer's Wimbledon final, crashed 23 aces past Woodforde during the one hour, 27-minute match.

While the lanky, goateed Croat was dismissing Woodforde, former world number one Muster, of Austria, mustered his ground-stroking arsenal to oust 15th-seeded clay courter Alberto Berasategui of Spain,the 1994 French Open runner-up, 7-6 (7-1) 6-2 6-3.

Muster, three times a quarter-finalist at the Open, improved to 4-1 lifetime against the Spaniard as he avenged a defeat in the final of this year's clay event in Estoril.

World No 1 and top seed Pete Sampras was following the 14th-seeded Ivanisevic onto Centre Court, beginning his quest for a record-tying 12th Grand Slam title against Marc Goellner of Germany.

On the women's side, top-seeded Martina Hingis of Switzerland was due to follow Sampras and begin defence of her Open crown with a Centre Court test against Aleksandra Olsza of Poland.

Early women's winners included 11th-seeded Patty Schnyder of Switzerland, who beat Japan's Yuka Yoshida 7-6 (7-5), 7-5, Poland's Magdalena Grzybowska, Americans Kimberly Po and Laura Granville.