Six seeds failed to survive their first round matches on the manicured grass courts as World number 2 Michael Chang and big-serving Australian Mark Philippoussis fell at the first hurdle. Chang crashed in the first round for the second year running when he was beaten by Todd Woodbridge. Philippoussis was beaten by Britain's Greg Rusedski. But second-seed Monica Seles won her first-round agaisnt Rachel Mcquillan of Australia in just 46 minutes.

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