Tsonga rallies for victory

Valencia - Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was given a scare by Spanish teenager Javier Marti before rallying to win their first-round match at the Valencia Open 4-6, 7-5, 6-2.

The second-seeded Frenchman had won 11 of his last 13 matches coming in, including titles at Metz and Vienna. But Tsonga trailed early due to unforced errors and the smooth backhand of the 19-year-old wildcard, who was playing his first match against a top-10 player.

While Tsonga complained about the streaks of sunlight on the City of Arts and Sciences indoor court, he settled toward the close of the second set after Marti double-faulted to be broken and served out the set on his way to victory.

Top-seeded David Ferrer's title defense begins later on Tuesday against fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco.

Results from the third day of the Valencia Open on Tuesday (x denotes seeding):

First round

Kevin Anderson (RSA) bt Martin Klizan (SVK) 6-1, 6-4
Sam Querrey (USA) bt Ernests Gulbis (LAT) 6-3, 6-4
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA x2) bt Javier Marti (ESP) 4-6, 7-5, 6-2
David Ferrer (ESP x1) bt Fernando Verdasco (ESP) 6-3, 6-2
Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) bt Igor Kunitsyn (RUS) 6-4, 7-6 (7/2)
Marcel Granollers (ESP) bt Oleksandr Dolgopolov Jr. (UKR x7) 6-3, 6-4
Gael Monfils (FRA x3) bt Albert Montanes (ESP) 6-3, 6-1