STOCKHOLM, Sweden -- Todd Martin beat Jarkko Nieminen 6-3, 7-5 Monday in the first round of the Stockholm Open.

Martin, the 1998 champion and a finalist here in 1996, saved 14 break points during the match.

"I squeezed through quite a few times,'' Martin said. "I played well. The conditions were difficult. The court is slow for being indoors.''

The 32-year-old Martin was playing in his second match on the ATP Tour since August. He lost in the first round of the U.S. Open, and his only outing after the final Grand Slam of the year was when he played doubles in the Davis Cup tie against France in September.

Nieminen, who reached the final of this event last year, said he felt good in practice and early in the match.

"I had so many chances, but I didn't take them,'' he said. "Then it's easy to lose against these players.''

Third-seeded Guillermo Canas of Argentina, the only seed in action on opening day, needed three sets to beat Brazil's Andre Sa 6-1, 6-7 (6), 6-3. Dutchman Raemon Sluiter beat American Vince Spadea 6-4, 7-6 (5) in the only other singles match of the day.

Wimbledon champion Lleyton Hewitt is the top seed and will play Thomas Enqvist on Tuesday.