Leyton Hewitt has claimed a 6-4 6-4 victory over Phillip Simmonds in the opening round of the Atlanta Championships.
The 174-ranked Australian - who required a wild card to enter the competition - dominated the contest against his American opponent, winning 89% of points when landing his first serve in.
Hewitt, whose two Grand Slam titles came at the US Open and Wimbledon in 2001 and 2002 respectively, has been plagued by hip and foot injuries in recent years.
The 30-year-old will not automatically qualify for the upcoming US Open due to his current standing, although he may be handed a wild card for the event.
Former world number one Hewitt will face another home qualifier, Rajeev Ram, in the next round.
