BRISBANE, Australia (AFP) —Defending champion Jiri Lehecka outlasted fellow Czech Tomas Machac over three sets Monday to book his place in the second round of the season-opening Brisbane International.

Lehecka, the third seed, saw off his sometime training partner Machac 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 6-2 in almost two-and-a-half hours on Pat Rafter Arena.

The 24-year-old has won two tournaments in his career, both in Australia.

"The weather and the court conditions here are things that I look forward to," he said. 

"There's no better place to start the season than here."

It was the Czech pair's first meeting on tour, but Lehecka said he and Machac knew each other well.