Djokovic, del Potro, Tsonga win in Paris

PARIS, May 26 (UPI) -- Serbian Novak Djokovic, Argentine Juan Martin del Potro and Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga were first-round winners Tuesday at the French Open.

Djokovic, a former Australian Open champion and former U.S. Open runner-up, was leading Ecuador's Nicolas Lapentti 6-3, 3-1 when Lapentti was forced to retire with an ankle injury.

The 6-foot-6 del Potro beat Frenchman Michael Llodra 6-3, 6-3, 6-1. Del Potro has never advanced beyond the second round in three previous trips to Paris.

Tsonga, the ninth-seeded former Australian Open runner-up, got his first-ever French Open main draw victory Tuesday by defeating fellow Frenchman Julien Benneteau 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

In other action, Frenchman Gael Monfils posted a 6-2, 6-3, 6-1 victory over American journeyman Bobby Reynolds; American James Blake exited when Argentine Leonardo Mayer beat him 7-6 (8-6), 7-5, 6-2; and Spaniard Tommy Robredo ousted Frenchman Adrian Mannarino 6-2, 6-1, 6-2.