Muster, now 31, won the event three times between 1992 and 1996, but has lost in the first round in the past two years.

He broke the jinx today in 71 minutes to record only his second victory since mid-January when he reached the semi-finals of a tournament in Sydney.

Stoltenberg advances

LAKE BUENA VISTA: Top-seeded Jason Stoltenberg of Australia beat American Justin Gimelstob 6-0, 6-7 (7-5), 6-4 in the first round of the Era Real Estate Clay Court Championships.

Armenia's Sargis Sargsian also advanced yesterday, beating second-seeded Jan-Michael Gambill of the United States 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-4).

In other matches, Italy's Gianluca Pozzi defeated fourth-seeded Magnus Larsson of Sweden 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 seventh-seeded Christian Ruud of Norway beat Spain's Alex Calatrava 6-4, 6-2 and Spain's Carlos Costa defeated Italy's LaurenceTielman 6-3, 6-0.