GSTAAD, Switzerland, 9 July 2003 — Three-time champion Alex Corretja clocked an opening-round win yesterday at the 550,000-euro Swiss Open as the spotlight burned on newly-crowned Wimbledon winner Roger Federer.

The Swiss conquering hero, first man from the alpine nation to lift a Grand Slam trophy, greeted the home fans in a centre court ceremony prior to play where he was presented with a cow - plus all the cheese her milk will produce.

Federer happily got to know his new friend Juliette, an 800-kilo Gstaad-born cow wearing garlands of flowers and the traditional bell around her neck.

The animal will remain his personal link to the region, providing Federer with cheese and dairy products for some years. As part of the deal, he also tried out a traditional one-legged Swiss milking stool and was told by organizers that he would have to milk his new friend at least once.

With shouts from the crowd to re-name her “Wimbledon,” the quiet top seed decided that her given name — every Swiss cow is given one at birth - should not be changed.

Federer opted out of taking her home to his base in Basle, instead preferring to accept regular deliveries of the local prime cheese which her milk will produce.

The World No. 3 was opening his campaign on the high-altitude clay against Spanish qualifier Marc Lopez.

Meanwhile, Spain’ seventh-seeded Corretja rolled over Dutchman John van Lottum 6-0, 6-2.

A lot has changed for Corretja, the defending champion, in recent weeks.

He became a first-time father just a few days before Wimbledon, causing him to miss the event. He also changed coaches, parting ways with Javier Duarte after a total of 16 years together.

“We spoke after Paris and decided we both needed a change,” said the 29-year-old Corretja. “We were both lacking in motivation. I feel like I’ve been re-born in my tennis.

Germany’s Lars Burgsmuller moved into the second round over Croatian Zeljko Krajan, winning 6-2, 6-7 (6-8), 6-1.

Nadal Ousts El Aynaoui

at Swedish Open

In Bastad, Sweden, Spanish teenager Rafael Nadal made an impressive start to the Swedish Open yesterday by ousting third seed and last year’s beaten finalist Younes El Aynaoui 6-3, 4-6, 6-3.

Nadal, who turned 17 last month, plays fellow Spaniard Albert Portas in the second round. Portas disposed of Dutch qualifier Rogier Wassen 6-4, 6-4.

Sweden’s Robin Soderling, another talented teenager who reached the third round at Wimbledon before losing to Briton Tim Henman, also progressed after beating Austrian qualifier Markus Hipfl 7-5, 6-1.

Soderling now faces defending champion and top seed Carlos Moya. The Spaniard needed three sets to overcome Slovakian Dominik Hrbaty 6-2, 6-7, 6-3.

Second seed Tommy Robredo, another Spaniard, cruised into the second round with a 6-3, 6-2 demolition of Swedish qualifier Marcus Sarstrand.

Gimelstob Fights Off Morrison

at Hall of Fame Tennis

In Newport, Rhode Island, seventh seed Justin Gimelstob fought off three match points on Monday before recording a 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (15-13) victory over Jeff Morrison in the first round of the $380,000 Hall of Fame Tennis Championships.

Coming off a third-round exit at Wimbledon, Gimelstob prevailed on his eighth match point in the first meeting of former college stars.

Morrison was playing his first match after missing 2 1 2 months due to a pulled stomach muscle. He has lost seven of eight matches this season.

Fourth-seeded American Robby Ginepri swept past Indian wild card Prakash Armitraj 6-1, 6-4, and No. 8 Jurgen Melzer spoiled Frenchman Nicolas Thomann’s first appearance in the main draw of an ATP Tour event with a 6-3, 6-7 (3 7), 6-4 victory.