Ferrero takes Monte Carlo first-rounder

MONTE CARLO, Monaco, April 21 (UPI) -- Juan Carlos Ferrero, a two-time winner in Monaco, rallied Monday for a first-round victory at the $3.57 million Masters Series Monte Carlo.

Ferrero, seeded 13th this year and trying to add to titles he collected at Monte Carlo in 2002 and 2003, dropped his first set Monday but roared back and lost just two games the rest of the way for a 6-7 (5-7), 6-1, 6-1 victory over Michael Llodra.

With the top eight seeds given first-round byes in the clay-court event, No. 9-seeded Paul-Henri Mathieu was the biggest name in the first round but he was ousted by Janko Tipsarevic 6-2, 2-6, 6-3.

Also losing a first-round match was Gustavo Kuerten, who is retiring from competitive tennis after the French Open. He was beaten 6-1, 6-2 by Ivan Ljubicic.

No. 14-seeded Andy Murray advanced with a 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 win over Feliciano Lopez.

Also Monday, Gael Monfils topped Fernando Verdasco 7-5, 6-4; Robin Soderling held off Radek Stepanek 6-4, 6-7 (6-8), 6-3; Olivier Rochus dismissed Tommy Haas 6-1, 3-0; Sam Querrey beat Carlos Moya 6-3, 1-6, 6-3; and Kristof Vliegen erased veteran Frenchman Fabrice Santoro.

Other opening-round wins were posted by Filippo Volandri, Philipp Kohlschreiber, Nicolas Lapentti and Mario Ancic.