AUCKLAND, New Zealand -- Brazil's Gustavo Kuerten completed preparations for the Australian Open with a victory in the Heineken Open, beating Slovakia's Dominik Hrbaty 6-3, 7-5 on Sunday.

The fourth-seeded Kuerten won his 18th career ATP Tour singles title, and beat Hrbaty for the first time in four matches.

The Brazilian, seeded 30th in the Australian Open, will begin play in Melbourne against Morocco's Hicham Arazi.

Hrbaty, the 2001 Auckland winner, will play Belgium's Xavier Malisse in his first match in the Australian Open.