Former French Open [ Images ] champion Gustavo Kuerten won his first match for 18 months when he defeated seventh seed Filippo Volandri of Italy [ Images ] at the Brazil [ Images ] Open on Tuesday.

Kuerten, unseeded, needed 47 minutes to polish off the match 6-3, 6-1 at the Costa da Sauipe tournament in a resort on the North-Eastern coast.

The Brazilian's last tour win was against Paul Goldstein at the US Open [ Images ] in August, 2005. Since then, he has undergone hip surgery and been plagued by muscular problems.

Kuerten, 30, returned to action in November but lost his first four matches.

"It was easier than I expected," said Kuerten, whose opponent had a minor shoulder injury.

"For the first time, I had a physical advantage and I had to make the most of it."

Kuerten won the French Open in 1997, 2000 and 2001.