Baghdatis finds his rhythm in South Africa

Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis proved too strong for Andrew Anderson and beat the local qualifier 6-4 6-2 in the South African Open on Monday.

The eighth-seed made Anderson pay for a host of unforced errors and overwhelmed the 25-year-old with his more powerful baseline play.

After being sidelined for much of last season with wrist and back injuries, Baghdatis said he was still trying to find his comfort zone.

"The venue is great and the support was very good, but I did not have that much fun out there because I didn't play very well" said the Cypriot, who is trying to work his way back up the rankings after slipping to number 100 at the end of 2008.

"After a back injury, it is not that easy. But it's just a matter of time, getting time on my feet and finding my rhythm."

Fourth-seeded Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez bowled over Germany's Bjorn Phau 6-4 6-3.

Sixth-seed Ivan Navarro was the only seed to fall on a day on which just six singles matches were played.

Navarro lost to lowly South African Rik de Voest, number 162 in the world and a wildcard entrant, 6-3 6-4.

Top-seeded Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga begins his campaign against Brazilian Thiago Alves on Tuesday.

The South African Open is making a return to the ATP Tour after an absence of more than a decade.