Monday 9 June 2014 22:56, UK
Former champion Philipp Kohlschreiber opened his Gerry Weber Open campaign with a 6-3 6-4 victory over Andreas Seppi on Monday in Halle.
Home favourite Kohlschreiber, ranked No 24 in the world, claimed his 22nd win of the season as he fired nine aces and converted both break point chances to prevail in 69 minutes.
"I knew the match was going to be tough against Seppi," Kohlschreiber said on the ATP Tour website. "I’m very happy I put him under pressure right from the start so he couldn’t develop his game.”
The 30-year-old lifted the trophy at the grass-court tournament in 2011, beating Phillip Petzschner in the final, and was runner-up in 2008 to Roger Federer.
I’m very happy I put [Andreas Seppi] under pressure right from the start so he couldn’t develop his game.
Kohlschreiber now faces a second-round showdown with French qualifier Pierre-Hugues Herbert, who upset No 8 seed Jerzy Janowicz 7-6(5), 6-2 for his third tour-level win.
Janowicz reached the semi-finals last year at Wimbledon, falling to eventual champion Andy Murray.
Two Germans wild cards advanced in opening day action in Halle with Peter Gojowczyk beating Michal Przysiezny 7-5 6-4 to book a date with third seed Milos Raonic, while Dustin Brown will take on French Open champion Rafael Nadal after defeating Russian qualifier Andrey Kuznetsov 6-3 6-4.
World No 1 Nadal, who beat Novak Djokovic to claim his ninth Roland Garros crown on Sunday, started the day with a media tour of Paris before heading to Halle, where he was on the practice courts within an hour of his arrival.
Back on the stadium court, Portugal's Joao Sousa prevented a perfect day for the German contingent as he dismissed wild card Jan-Lennard Struff 6-4 6-2 and will now face No 2 seed and defending champion Roger Federer, who is looking to win the Gerry Weber Open title for a seventh time.
Meanwhile, Germany's top player and Halle champion, Tommy Haas, withdrew from the tournament Monday with a right shoulder injury.
