Cilic begins defense of Chennai Open title

CHENNAI, India, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- Marin Cilic opened defense of his Chennai Open title with a straight-set win Monday at the tournament in India.

Cilic, seeded second this year, dispatched Igor Kunitsyn 6-2, 6-4, dropping just 11 points in nine service games. He broke Kunitsyn's serve three times, taking advantage of the Russian's second serve. Cilic won 75 percent of the points on Kunitsyn's second serves.

No. 4-seeded Janko Tipsarevic also won in straight sets, stopping Carlos Moya 6-3, 7-6 (7-2) but sixth-seeded Simon Greul fell 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 and eighth-seeded Rajeev Ram was routed 6-1, 6-1 by Thiemo De Bakker in 59 minutes.

Santiago Giraldo topped Bjorn Phau 6-4, 6-7 (6-8), 6-3 in the other first-round match on Monday's schedule.

The winner of the $450,000 tournament will collect $68,450.