The Russian world number four, chasing his third Poertschach title in four years, needed just 59 minutes to beat the Austrian world number 263.

Davydenko won the tournament in 2005 at its previous location in St Poelten before defending the title at its new home in 2006.

His hopes of a hat-trick were ended in the 2007 quarter-finals by the eventual champion, Argentina's Juan Monaco.

Monaco is due to begin his defence on Tuesday against compatriot Carlos Berlocq.

Davydenko will take on Italian qualifier Simone Vagnozzi or the United States' John Isner for a place in the quarter-finals of the 370,000 euros ($580,000) event.