TORONTO -- Second seed Marat Safin opened his hardcourt campaign with a 6-4 6-3 win over Argentina's Juan Ignacio Chela on Tuesday, leading a parade of Grand Slam winners into the second round of the $2.95 million Canada Tennis Masters.

Joining Russian Safin in the next round were former French Open champions Carlos Moya and Yevgeny Kafelnikov, and Pete Sampras, the most prolific Grand Slam winner of all-time with 13 major titles to his credit.

But former Wimbledon champion Richard Krajicek, triple French Open winner Gustavo Kuerten and reigning Roland Garros champion Albert Costa failed to join them as all three tripped up at the first hurdle, Reuters reported.

Back in action for the first time since his second-round defeat at Wimbledon, a well-rested Safin faced a difficult opening assignment against the 25th-ranked Chela.

But the 2000 U.S. Open champion, number two in the champions race standings, was always in command after claiming early breaks of serve in both sets.

"I think I played great," said Safin, the highest seed left in the event following world number one Lleyton Hewitt's first-round defeat on Monday. "Especially since it was difficult to play after a long vacation I had in Moscow. "I needed a break. I was tired, tired of tennis mentally and physically. I had such a great vacation, I was enjoying it so much that coming back to work is real difficult."

Safin can expect a much sterner test in the second round. He faces defending champion Andrei Pavel of Romania, who advanced after Kuerten was forced to retire with a recurring hip problem.

bc-sport-tennis-canada-masters (update 1) sport-tennis-canada-masters (update 1):update 1-tennis-safin leads grand slam parade into second round (updates with later matches) by steve keating toronto, july 30 (reuters) - second seed marat safin opened his hardcourt campaign with a 6-4 6-3 win over argentina's juan ignacio chela on tuesday, leading a parade of grand slam winners into the second round of the $2.95 million canada tennis masters.

joining russian safin in the next round were former french open champions carlos moya and yevgeny kafelnikov, and pete sampras, the most prolific grand slam winner of all-time with 13 major titles to his credit.

but former wimbledon champion richard krajicek, triple french open winner gustavo kuerten and reigning roland garros champion albert costa failed to join them as all three tripped up at the first hurdle.

back in action for the first time since his second-round defeat at wimbledon, a well-rested safin faced a difficult opening assignment against the 25th-ranked chela.

but the 2000 u.s. open champion, number two in the champions race standings, was always in command after claiming early breaks of serve in both sets.

"i think i played great," said safin, the highest seed left in the event following world number one lleyton hewitt's first-round defeat on monday. "especially since it was difficult to play after a long vacation i had in moscow. "i needed a break. i was tired, tired of tennis mentally and physically. i had such a great vacation, i was enjoying it so much that coming back to work is real difficult."

safin can expect a much sterner test in the second round. he faces defending champion andrei pavel of romania, who advanced after kuerten was forced to retire with a recurring hip problem.

brief chat feeling pain in his hip, the brazilian called for the trainer after losing the first set 7-5. following a brief chat, he shook hands with pavel and left the court.

"i did not feel the strength in my leg to play and compete," said kuerten, adding he would wait two or three days before deciding whether to play in cincinnati next week. "you have to be cautious about what is coming ahead."

after disappointing campaigns on clay and grass, sampras made a positive start to the north american hardcourt season by outlasting wayne ferreira 7-6 (8-6) 5-7 6-4.

looking to end a title drought that goes back more than two years and a total of 30 tournaments, sampras, 30, showed against the south african glimpses of the form and dogged determination that made him the greatest player tennis has seen.

back in action for the first time since his surprise second-round defeat at wimbledon, the american battled ferreira for two hours and 14 minutes and pumped his fist in delight as the partisan crowd roared its approval when he blasted a service winner to seal victory.

"i thought we both played pretty well, that was a high level of tennis," said sampras. "i felt like i was on my game and served and volleyed quite well. "it's great for my confidence. mentally i hung in there, competed well and that's my goal."

sixth seed costa's stay in toronto ended quickly as the spaniard went down 6-3 6-1 to american vincent spadea.

but costa's compatriot moya went safely through, the 16th seed halting frenchman julien boutter 7-6 (7-5) 6-4.

russian kafelnikov, french open champion in 1996 and the australian open winner in 1999, had to rally from a set down to beat max mirnyi of belarus 4-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 while finland's jarkko nieminen beat 1996 wimbledon champion krajicek 7-5 6-1.

the day began with tommy haas collecting his first win since the french open, the third-seeded german easing past canadian wild card frederic niemeyer 6-3 6-3.