BANGKOK -- Gael Monfils played another strong match in his return from a knee injury, beating South African Kevin Anderson 6-4, 2-6, 7-5 Wednesday to reach the second round of the Thailand Open.
Monfils came back last week from nearly four months out with a right knee injury and reached the semifinals in Metz in his French homeland. On Wednesday, he blew a 3-1 lead in the third set. Anderson went ahead 5-4, but Monfils won the last three games to move on.
"I didn't play big tennis, just good enough to win. That's the good thing," Monfils said. "I need more time to be good and confident."
Go Soeda of Japan beat local wild card Danai Udomchoke 6-4, 7-5 for a fourth straight time, and Ivo Karlovic of Croatia defeated Marinko Matosevic of Australia 6-3 6-4.
Top-seeded Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia was first into the quarterfinals after beating Japanese qualifier Hiroki Moriya 6-4, 6-4. Tipsarevic, who had a first-round bye in his debut in Thailand, broke Moriya once in each set.
Tipsarevic looks to win his second title of the year to boost his hopes of qualifying for the eight-man ATP Finals. He's ranked No. 9.