Agassi, the 35-year-old three-time champion survived a couple of service breaks in the opening set to beat Alberto Martin of Spain 6-4, 6-2.
"I came out here tonight a little bit nervous," Agassi told the near-capacity crowd, before thanking them for their enthusiastic support.

The oldest player in men's tennis finessed his way from the baseline with steady groundstrokes, capitalizing on mistakes by his 26-year-old opponent. The No. 4 seed and seventh-ranked player in the world hopes to capture his 61st career title this week and boost his earnings above $30 million US.

Agassi's next opponent is Jonas Bjorkman of Sweden, 33, who easily beat American Vincent Spadea in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2.

Asked about taking on another "old timer," Agassi said Bjorkman won't be easy despite his having to qualify for the tourney.

"I'm the best over-30 player, so it doesn't matter," he joked.

Agassi hopes injections he's received for a sciatic nerve in his lower back will keep him on the court through the summer season.

Veteran British tennis player Tim Henman's game continued to struggle as the 10th seed lost to Dominik Hrbaty of Slovakia, 27, in three sets, 3-6, 7-5, 6-1.

Henman, 30, used his usual combination of tough serves and finessed net play in the first set. But a lapse in the second set continued through the third, frustrating Henman, who shot a ball into the stands upon being broken to trail 1-3.

"It's frustrating," he said. "I haven't played that much tennis and that many matches."

Another seeded player to lose was Fernando Gonzalez of Chile. The 16th seed lost to Max Mirnyi of Belarus 6-7 (5), 4-6.

Joining Henman and Gonzalez on the sidelines were 16-year-old Bester of North Vancouver, B.C., and Niemeyer of Deauville, Que.

Bester fell to Ricardo Mello of Brazil 4-6, 2-6. Hometown crowd support wasn't enough to help Niemeyer, 29, against Nikolay Davydenko of Russia. The fifth seed won 6-2, 6-1.

First-round action will resume Tuesday with Frank Dancevic of Niagara Falls, Ont., and Toronto's Rob Steckley vying to keep Canadian hopes alive.

Niemeyer was disappointed with the result after working so hard to prepare for the match.

"I followed my game plan," Niemeyer told reporters. "I tried to make some changes but everytime he had an answer."

Despite losing in what is likely to be his last singles match in Montreal, Niemeyer said he isn't looking back in sadness.

"If it's my last opportunity, I don't leave with any regrets."

While Niemeyer's career is waning, Bester's is just beginning. But his big serves in the opening game of the match couldn't carry the 978-ranked player in the world to victory against the 56th-ranked southpaw.

"It was a very good learning experience, and I'm very happy I got the opportunity to place here," Bester said following the match.

"It feels good that I didn't go out there and get blown off the court," said the 2004 Under-18 national junior outdoor champion.

Bester recently earned his first professional points at an event in Granby, Que. But he admitted to being nervous Monday, often overhitting balls.

"It was hard to sleep last night," he said. "Just the excitement, adrenaline."

Bester, who trains at the Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Florida, plans to enter the Junior U.S. Open and eventually play for Canada in Davis Cup.

Montreal-born Greg Rusedski, who plays for Britain, was broken a couple of times in the opening set before rallying to a 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-3 win over Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland.

Other winners included 15th seeded Richard Gasquet of France, who beat Mikhail Youzhny of Russia 6-3 7-6 (3); No. 11 seed Tommy Robredo of Spain was pushed to a third set against American Kevin Kim before winning 7-5, 3-6, 6-1.

Mario Ancic of Croatia won a second-set tie breaker to win his match 6-3, 7-6 (8) against Cyril Saulnier of France; Karol Beck of Slovakia beat Noam Okun of Israel 6-3, 6-2; Andrei Pavel of Romania beat Christophe Rochus of Belgium 6-1, 7-5; Olivier Rochus of Belgium beat Nicolas Mahut of France 6-3, 6-4; Eighth-seeded Mariano Puerta of Argentina outlasted Luis Horna of Peru 7-6 (7), 7-6 (3).

David Nalbandian of Argentina, a finalist to 2003 champion Andy Roddick and the ninth seed, beat Argentine countryman Juan Ignacio Chela 6-4, 6-1.

The first doubles match of the tournament saw Israelis Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram beat Stephen Huss of Australia and Wesley Moodie of South Africa 7-6 (2), 2-6, 7-6 (4).