Hanescu opens Nice Open with easy win

NICE, France, May 16 (UPI) -- Victor Hanescu lost only one game Monday in breezing to a first-round win at the Nice Open tennis tournament in France.

Hanescu, despite having to deal with six break points, eliminated Benoit Paire 6-0, 6-1 in 55 minutes. Hanescu lost only four points in his four service games in the second set.

He was aided by poor serving from Paire, who landed only 37 percent of his first serves and had five double faults. Hanescu won 67 percent of the points off Paire's second serve.

Andreas Seppi was the day's only three-set winner, getting past Edouard Roger-Vasselin 3-6, 6-3, 6-2. Seppi didn't face a break point after the first set.

Pere Riba made it 3-0 versus French players Monday with a 6-2, 6-2 win over fellow qualifier Guillaume Rufin. Riba finished off six of his seven break-point chances.

In other Monday matches, Denis Istomin defeated Olivier Rochus 6-2, 7-6 (7-5) and Pablo Andujar advanced when, after Andujar went up 5-0 in the first set, Grigor Dimitrov retired.