Australian Open champion Thomas Johansson recovered from a sluggish start to ease into the second round of the Monte Carlo Masters on Monday.

The Swede lost the first set to compatriot Magnus Norman, but he found his range in the nick of time to win 2-6, 7-6, 6-1.

Elsewhere on the opening day of the tournament, there were wins for Albert Costa, Hicham Arazi and Juan Ignacio Chela, who knocked out the 14th seed Thomas Enqvist.

Chela has been in good form of late on his less favoured surfaces, so victory over Enqvist on his beloved clay was hardly a shock.

The Argentine romped home 6-1, 6-1 to set up a clash with last year's surprise finalist, Arazi, who beat Arnaud Clement 6-3, 6-3.

Defeat for Johansson against Norman wouldn't have raised an eyebrow two years ago, but the two Swedes' careers have taken very different courses since then.

Norman reached the French Open final in 2000, losing to Gustavo Kuerten in a Roland Garros classic, and he was a major force during the clay-court season two years ago.

However, a slump in form was followed by hip surgery, and Norman has won just one match since recovering from the operation.

The former world No.2 rolled back the years with some pounding winners in the first set, but he pushed a forehand wide to hand Johansson the second-set tiebreak and collapsed in the decider.

Johansson, whose profile has rocketed since winning his maiden Grand Slam title in Melbourne, stormed through the final set for the loss of just one game to seal his first victory in six visits to Monte Carlo.

The Swede will face Stefan Koubek in the second round after the Austrian recovered from a slow start to beat Spain's Albert Montanes 4-6, 6-2, 6-4.