Chardy survives first round in Russia

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia, Oct. 27 (UPI) -- Jeremy Chardy, who at No. 4 was the highest seed in action Tuesday, stormed past Petru-Alexandru Luncanu 6-2, 6-2 at the St. Petersburg Open.

Chardy has reached the semifinals on the ATP circuit four times this year and won the Mercedes Cup, but he had lost in the opening round of his previous four tournaments.

No. 5 seed Igor Andreev also advanced Tuesday with a 6-4, 6-2 triumph over Potito Starace.

Qualifier Sergiy Stakhovsky pulled off the biggest surprise of the day with a 6-4, 6-3 win over sixth-seeded Evgeny Korolev.

Two-time defending champion Andy Murray chose not to compete here this week. No. 1 seed Mikhail Youzhny, coming off a tournament victory in Moscow last weekend, will meet Andrey Golubev Wednesday.

Golubev lost to Murray in last year's final.