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Mathieu starts ATP's Open Sud de France with win

Paul-Henri Mathieu, shown at the 2012 French Open, posted a first-round win Monday at the Open Sud de France ATP tournament. UPI/David Silpa
Paul-Henri Mathieu, shown at the 2012 French Open, posted a first-round win Monday at the Open Sud de France ATP tournament. UPI/David Silpa | License Photo

MONTPELLIER, France, Feb. 3 (UPI) -- Paul-Henri Mathieu lost only one game Monday in advancing to the second round of the Open Sud de France ATP tournament.

Mathieu, a wild-card entrant, won the first five and the last four games of a 6-1, 3-0 decision over Nicolas Mahut. Mahut retired after the third game of the second set, citing the flu.

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Mathieu, despite landing just 44 percent of his first serves, lost just 10 points through the five games serving and had four breaks in the five games Mahut served.

He earned a spot in the second round against top-seeded and defending champion Richard Gasquet, who has a first-round bye.

Both Gasquet and Mathieu are French and are among 11 French players in the 32-man field.

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