Fifth-seeded Monaco rolls in first-round Stockholm match

STOCKHOLM, Sweden -- Fifth-seeded Juan Monaco beat wild card Ervin Eleskovic 6-3, 6-3 Sunday in the first-round match at the Stockholm Open.

Monaco, an Argentine clay court specialist, will meet the winner between Oscar Hernandez of Spain and a yet-determined qualifier in the second round.

Eleskovic, 20, has never won a match on the ATP Tour. It was the fourth straight year the Stockholm organizers gave him a wild card.

James Blake, the two-time defending champion, will face Swedish veteran Jonas Bjorkman in the first round on Monday or Tuesday.

The tournament, one of the oldest indoors on the ATP Tour, is being played for the 39th year on hardcourt carpet at the Royal Tennis Hall.