HONG KONG -- Mark Philippoussis returned after a six-month absence because of knee surgery and beat Israel's Harel Levy 6-3, 7-5 Wednesday in the first round of the Salem Open.

Philippoussis, one of the hardest servers in tennis, had 20 aces. The fifth-seeded Aussie will face Rainer Schuettler of Germany in the second round of the $400,000 tournament.

Top-seeded Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain dropped the second set but went on to defeat Paradorn Srichaphan of Thailand 6-3, 4-6, 6-3.

Philippoussis said he was happy with the way his knee held up. He had surgery in March and has recovered slowly.

"It has been painful," he said. "I have spent two months in bed and another two months in a wheelchair and on crutches."

Philippoussis said he has no plans of playing for Australia in November's Davis Cup final against France.

In an all-Australian match, Wayne Arthurs defeated Todd Woodbridge 6-2, 6-2.