Publications
Partners
Monaco - Gael Monfils overcame a shaky start to rally past Russian qualifier Andrey Kuznetsov 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the first round of the Monte Carlo Masters on Tuesday.
The 14th-seeded Frenchman, who recently returned to the tour after a knee injury, struggled with his serve early before finding his range.
Monfils was up a break in the opener but lost 12 of the last 14 points as Kuznetsov took control. But the Russian could not build on the momentum, dropping his serve twice in the second set.
Serving for the match at 5-4, Monfils hit two big serves to fend off break points and closed out the match.
Wild-card entry Lucas Pouille also advanced and will next face eight-time champion Rafael Nadal.
Results on the third day of the Monte Carlo Masters on Tuesday (x denotes seeded player):Second round
Novak Djokovic (SRB x1) bt Albert Ramos (ESP) 6-1, 6-4
Andreas Haider-Maurer (AUT) bt Bernard Tomic (AUS) 6-7 (4/7), 7-6 (7/5), 6-4
Marin Cilic (CRO x8) bt Florian Mayer (GER) 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
David Ferrer (ESP x5) bt Vctor Estrella (DOM) 6-2, 2-0 retired
First round
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA x11) bt Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) 6-4, 6-4
Lucas Pouille (FRA) bt Dominic Thiem (AUT) 6-4, 6-4
Viktor Troicki (SRB) bt Martin Klizan (SVK) 7-6 (7/5), 5-7, 6-2
Gilles Simon (FRA x10) bt Benjamin Balleret () 6-4, 6-2
Tommy Robredo (ESP x16) bt Andreas Seppi (ITA) 6-3, 1-6, 6-4
Marcel Granollers (ESP) bt Adrian Mannarino (FRA) 6-3, 6-0
Juan Monaco (ARG) bt Jir Vesely (CZE) 6-4, 6-2
Grigor Dimitrov (BUL x9) bt Fernando Verdasco (ESP) 6-4, 4-6, 6-4
Gael Monfils (FRA x14) bt Andrey Kuznetsov (RUS) 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
