Frenchman Richard Gasquet needed just over an hour to dispatch Japan's Go Soeda in straight sets at the Marseille Open.
Davydenko sees off Beck to set up clash with del Potro
Frenchman Richard Gasquet needed just over an hour to dispatch Japan's Go Soeda in straight sets in the opening round of the Marseille Open.
Soeda, ranked 82th in the world, managed to win just nine points in the first set and although he improved in the second the outcome was never in doubt, Gasquet easing through 6-0 6-2.
However the news wasn't so good for another home favourite, Paul-Henri Mathieu failing to progress after losing a gruelling match lasting two hours and 24 minutes against Slovakia's Karol Beck, who triumphed 7-6 (7-2) 2-6 6-3.
Another Frenchman, world number 388 Albano Olivetti, was a surprise 6-4 6-3 winner over Germany's Matthias Bachinger, the qualifier taking an hour and seven minutes to beat a player ranked 296 places higher in the rankings.
Nicolas Mahut won an all-French battle with veteran wild card Arnaud Clement 6-3 6-4, while there were also wins for Igor Kunitsyn and Belgian qualifier David Goffin.
Meanwhile, Nikolay Davydenko booked his place in the second round with a 6-1 7-5 result against Germany's Karol Beck, the Russian hammering nine aces and registering three breaks of serve.
Next up for Davydenko, who reached the semi-finals in Rotterdam last week, will be fourth-seeded Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina
