Radek Stepanek defeated compatroit Stefan Koubek 6-3, 6-2 in the opening round of PBZ Zagreb Indoors in Croatia.  

"I felt good from the beginning of the match," said Stepanek. "It’s always difficult in the first match as you have to get used to the conditions and the surface. Hopefully I can keep it up for the rest of the week.

"The bounces are low when you hit flat shots so hopefully I can use the surface to my advantage to keep the ball low and take away the angles from my opponents. I’m just taking it match by match. I’m happy to be back playing indoors as it’s my favourite surface.”

Last year's semi-finalist and seventh seeded Philipp Petzschner of Germany defeated Jan Hajek of the Czech Republic 6-3, 6-3.

Croatian Ivo Karlovic lost to German Daniel Brands 7-5, 6-7(3), 7-6(1) despite arrowing 32 aces.