MARSEILLE, France (AP)—Michael Llodra has rallied to beat fellow Frenchman Edouard Roger-Vasselin 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-4 in the first round of the Open 13 tennis tournament.
Llodra lost to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in last year's all-French final. On Tuesday, he served 17 aces and broke qualifier Roger-Vasselin three times.
Llodra won only his second match this season and will play seventh-seeded Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus in the second round of the indoor hardcourt tournament.
Eighth-seeded Julien Benneteau of France reached the second round with a 7-6 (5), 7-6 (3) win over Stephane Bohli of Switzerland. Sergiy Stakhovsky of Ukraine beat Simone Bolelli of Italy 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, and next plays top-seeded Robin Soderling of Sweden.