Rusedski eases through in Kremlin Cup

Greg Rusedski eased into the second round of the Kremlin Cup with a straight-sets victory over Michael Llodra.

The world number 29 overpowered his French opponent at the Moscow event, winning 6-3 6-1.

It marked a welcome return to the ATP tour for Rusedski, who has not played a competitive singles match since being ousted from the US Open by James Blake in late August.

That first-round defeat in New York was followed by Great Britain’s Davis Cup thrashing by Switzerland, where Rusedski only contested the doubles rubber.

However, he looked back to his best against Llodra, who he also beat in Marseille earlier this season, and will next face either another Frenchman Fabrice Santoro or Russian wild card Igor Kunitsyn.

Rusedski was a losing finalist in Moscow 12 months ago, ousting Ivo Karlovic, Filippo Volandri, Joachim Johansson and Dominik Hrbaty before losing to Nikolay Davydenko.