Cilic passes the Russian test

Croatian fourth seed Marin Cilic passed a stern clay test against Russian Igor Andreev 6-7(4), 6-1, 6-4 on Tuesday to kick-start his season on the surface with a second-round victory.

Also advancing was Frenchman Jo Wilfried Tsonga who went through after a tough second-round encounter against clay-court specialist Nicolas Almagro of Spain. Tsonga won 7-6(5), 7-5. Fernando Verdasco had it easy against Julien Benneteau, winning 6-2, 6-1.

While admitting that it always takes him a week or more to get into his rhythm on the surface, the two-time ATP champion this season was pleased to take the win on a sunny day in just under three hours.

“It was my first match on the clay this season and Igor has some matches already,” said Cilic, who took his record in the series to 4-1. “He really pushed me, it was a good opening match.”

Cilic faced 18 breakpoints, saving 14 in the struggle with the Russian whose clay highlight in February was a semifinal in Brazil. The big-hitting Croatian was held to a modest five aces and broke Andreev on 11 of his 19 chances.

French players went two-for-three on the day in the first round, as injured and hurting Paul-Henri Mathieu suffered the day's home loss at the storied Mediterranean venue.

The Frenchman who has been bothered by knee pain for five months, went down to Austrian 15th seed Jurgen Melzer 6-3, 6-2.

There were wins for Michael Llodra, who put out Italian Fabio Fognini 6-3, 6-3 and Florent Serra, a winner over Gallic compatriot Stephane Robert 7-6(6), 3-6, 6-4.

Mathieu said: “My knee is hurting and also my adductors. I feel that pain. As long as it doesn't go away, it's going to be very difficult for me. “I need a lot of energy to overcome the pain and also to overcome the fear.”

Top-eight seeds benefit from first-round byes, with number one seed Novak Djokovic and five-time champion Rafael Nadal waiting to start on Wednesday. Djokovic, losing finalist a year ago to the mighty Spaniard, will start his week against Serra while Nadal plays Dutch hope Thiemo de Bakker, a winner over Argentine Eduardo Schwank — fined for not trying during a match last week — 6-3, 7-5.

The results: Monte Carlo Masters: Second round: Marin Cilic bt Igor Andreev 6-7(4), 6-1, 6-4; Fernando Verdasco bt Julien Benneteau 6-2, 6-1; Jo Wilfried Tsonga bt Nicolas Almagro 7-6(5), 7-5.

First round: Jurgen Melzer bt Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-3, 6-2; Michael Llodra bt Fabio Fognini 6-3, 6-3; Florent Serra bt Stephane Robert 7-6(6), 3-6, 6-4; Thiemo de Bakker bt Eduardo Schwank 6-3, 7-5 .