Mark Philippoussis in action against Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo of Spain in Sydney on Tuesday. Philippoussis won 6-4, 5-7, 6-2. (AFP)

Sydney: Australian Chris Guccione, ranked 447th in the world, pulled off a shock 6-3, 7-6 win over French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero at the Sydney International on Tuesday.

The 18-year-old upset the world No. 3 and tournament top seed with a display of powerful serving, sending down 19 aces to seal only his third match win as a senior professional.

“When someone serves like that, there’s nothing you can do,” Spaniard Ferrero said. “I’m not disappointed because I don't think I played badly, he just served too well.”

Guccione, who stands 1.98 metres tall, was a junior finalist at Wimbledon in 2003 and was rewarded for his performance with a job as orange boy, helping out the Australian team at last year's Davis Cup final with Spain.

Regarded as one of Australia’s most promising junior players, he was given wildcard entry to both the Sydney International and the Australian Open, starting next week in Melbourne.

“That’s the best match I’ve ever played,” he said. “I was really nervous for the first points but I was serving so well that I started to get a bit of confidence.”

All the remaining seeds safely advanced to the next stage.

Carlos Moya of Spain, beat American Alex Bogomolov 7-5, 6-4 Martin Verkerk of The Netherlands saw off Australia’s Wayne Arthurs 6-4, 6-4.

Australia’s 2003 Wimbledon finalist Mark Philippoussis blew a second-set lead before defeating Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo of Spain 6-4, 5-7, 6-2.

Kuerten stretched

Meanwhile, holder Gustavo Kuerten battled for almost three hours before beating Spain’s Alex Corretja 6-7, 7-6, 7-5 in Round I of the Auckland Open on Tuesday.

The Brazilian, who was given support by the home crowd, overcame the world-ranked number 100 in two hours 49 minutes. “They (the fans) stayed behind me and gave me the hope to hang in there.”

Finn Jarrko Nieman was upset 1-6, 4-6 by Fabrice Santoro of France.