London  - Lleyton Hewitt spent a quick 44 minutes in crushing Argentine Eduardo Schwank 6-1, 6-0 to burst out of the blocks in his first grass match of the season, reaching the second round at Queen's Club Monday.

The Australian, a four-time champion in West London at the Wimbledon tune-up event, split the difference with a pair of rapid- fire 22-minute sets against the South American playing only his fifth career grass match.

The Australian broke six times in the rout which sends him into a meeting against the winner from another pair of Latin clay-courters, Portugal's Federico Gil and Spaniard Daniel Gimeno-Traver.

"This is the best preparation for Wimbledon for me," said 2002 All England Club champion Hewitt, a one-time number one now ranked 49th. "it's been great to get onto the grass.

"But it's been tough to practise due to rainy weather last weekend. I felt pretty good today, On this surface, your serve and return are key."

Hewitt admitted that he didn't see much of the Sunday French Open final when rival Roger Federer finally clinched the only Grand Slam missing from his storied resume.

"I saw the last set and a half," said the Australian. "he was hitting the ball the cleanest he had all tournament."

Feliciano Lopez, the tenth-seeded Spaniard who has an atypical feel for grass, advanced over Robert Kendrick one of two American early losses on the days, 7-6 (7-3),
7-6 (7-3).

Italy's Andreas Seppi sent another American out with his defeat of Robby Ginepri 5-7, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3.

Spain's 16th seed Guillermo Garcia-Lopez hammered Yen-Hsun Lu of Taiwan 6-1, 6-1 while Luxembourg's Gilles Muller claimed the first British victim of the week as he dismissed wild card Joshua Goodall 6-3, 7-6 (9-7).

Scot Andy Murray takes the top seeding at home for the first time owing to the knee injury pullout of Rafael Nadal, with the leading eight seeds all receiving byes.

Andy Roddick, the number two, will start the bid for a fifth title in seven years, while Frenchman Gilles Simon is seeded third ahead of compatriot and French Open quarter-finalist Gael Monfils.(dpa)