Chardy claims first-round win in Morocco

CASABLANCA, Morocco, April 4 (UPI) -- No. 6-seeded Jeremy Chardy was among the straight-set winners Monday during the first round of the ATP's Grand Prix Hassan II tennis tournament in Morocco.

Chardy defeated Bjorn Phau 6-2, 7-5. He established control of the match in the first set, winning nearly 60 percent of the points and won the second despite Phau matching him by winning 46 points in the set.

The difference was that Chardy was able to finish off two of eight break-point opportunities while dropping his serve once in the set.

Eighth-seeded Victor Hanescu also advanced, coming from behind for a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 win over Daniel Gimeno-Traver. Hanescu seemed to have the match in hand, going up 4-0 in the third set. But Gimeno-Traver tied the set at 4-4 before Hanescu got his fifth service break in ending the match.

Also Monday, Pere Riba topped Jesse Huta Galung 6-3, 6-3 in a brisk 64 minutes, losing only 12 points in nine service games, and Pablo Andujar beat Florent Serra 6-1, 3-6, 6-2.