Todd Martin's defense of his Outback Champions Series points title didn't start well, but a strong finish had the 37-year-old smiling late Wednesday.

In a back-and-forth match, Martin couldn't find a rhythm against Anders Jarryd in the season-opening Oliver Group Champions Cup at The Players Club & Spa at Lely Resort. The 6-foot-6 Martin needed a little push from Jarryd to finally take control.

After Martin won the first set in a tie-breaker, the players were tied a three games apiece in the second set. The fourth game started with an extended point that featured several volleys, a lot of grunts and two worn out players.

Jarryd won the point, but Martin took the game and a 4-3 advantage in the set. Martin then won eight of the next nine points to take the Champions Cup opening match 7-6 (7-5), 6-3.

"Unless it absolutely kills you, a long point generally helps," Martin said. "There is a rhythm and a flow that promotes a little bit better timing that is bound to carry on. I was feeling it at the end of that point."

With the win, the American moves to 1-0 in pool play. Jarryd, the 46-year-old Swede, falls to 0-1 in Group A.

Jim Courier defeated Aaron Krickstein 6-1, 3-6, 10-6 late Wedneday. Courier won the 2006 singles title in Naples en route to clinching the year-end No. 1 ranking in the Outback Champions Series inaugural year. He needed a Champions Tie-Break on Wednesday night to defeat Krickstein, who lost last year’s Naples final to Wayne Ferreira.

The Champions Cup consists of four days of pool play. The winners of groups A and B meet in Sunday's championship match.

Martin took a 3-1 lead in the first set of his win before Jarryd won three straight games to go up 4-3. Neither play led by more than one game again until Martin won the final three to close out the match.

Jarryd said his plan was to keep the bigger Martin moving. He accomplished that goal early, which kept the American out of rhythm. Jarryd, standing 5-11, also made his much taller opponent get low to return his shots.

"He's really tough for me to play," Martin said. "He takes the ball early, and the ball gets flat and hit hard. I'd really rather have my feet under me if the ball's going to get to me that fast."

Jarryd, who has 59 doubles titles to his credit, led Martin 5-4 and 6-5 in the first set. He had set point the first time, but Martin won two straight points to tie it at 5-5.

In the tie-breaker, Jarryd led 5-4 but hit a shot long to even the score. Martin followed with an ace to take the advantage before winning 7-5.

"Overall I was happy with the way I played," said Jarryd, who played in just two series tournaments last year. "With a little luck I could have won the first set. It could have gone either way."

Martin blasted three aces in the final game of the match, including getting one past Jarryd on the winning point.