STOCKHOLM (AFP) -- Mario Ancic started plastering over the cracks of a season marred by injury with a resounding 6-1, 6-4 victory against Amer Delic to reach the second round of the Stockholm Open on Tuesday.

The former Wimbledon semifinalist has not played since August after returning to the ATP following six months of mononucleosis and then suffering a shoulder problem which forced him off court again.
The number 56 last won a match in Cincinnati in the first round over Tommy Haas near two months ago. His only other previous victory since the Australian Open was a win the week before in Canada.
Ancic made a solid Stockolm return to Stockholm for the first time since 2005, as he faced Delic, an 85th-ranked journeyman who earned a fourth-round Miami Masters spot last March.
The naturalized American is now mired in a ten-match losing streak dating to the Wimbledon second round finding no joy as he played in Stockholm for the first time.
Ancic didn't have it all his own way after sweeping the first set, saving a pair of break points in the eighth game of the second to move within sight of the finish line, 5-3.
Delic made a last stand with a hold before Ancic finished his afternoon's work at the Kungligahallen in 72 minutes after Delic saved two match points and missed on a break point before exiting.
James Blake, Tommy Haas and Ivo Karlovic were lining up later as the first seeds on court on Day three of an event which began with one match on Sunday.
Blake, the number one, takes a 10-match Stockholm win streak into his opening contest against local hero Jonas Bjorkman, champion here a decade ago.
Number four Haas will attempt a fast start as he plays the event for the first time since losing a 2004 semifinal to Andre Agassi. He starts against Belgian Olivier Rochus.
Tokyo semifinalist Ivo Karlovic will try to transport his big game to Europe after a dash from Asia, playing a first-round match against Chile's Nicolas Massu.