Pair of upsets mark ATP's Monte Carlo Masters

MONTE CARLO, Monaco, April 15 (UPI) -- Fabio Fognini and Roberto Bautista-Agut posted upset wins Monday in first-round play of the Monte Carlo Rolex Masters tennis tournament.

Bautista-Agut took out 11th-seeded Gilles Simon, a semifinalist at this event a year ago, 6-3, 7-6 (8-6) despite winning less than half of the points on serve. Simon managed six breaks but Bautista-Agut converted seven of his 10 break opportunities. He won 58 percent of the points off Simon's serve.

Fognini rallied for a 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 decision over No. 15-seed Andreas Seppi. There were again 13 breaks in the match with Fognini totaling five over the second and third sets to advance.

Ninth-seeded Marin Cilic twice was broken while serving for the match in the second set but still was able to escape with a 6-2, 6-7 (6-8), 6-2 win over Horacio Zeballos.

No. 12-seeded Milos Raonic rolled to a 6-1, 6-4 win over Julien Benneteau behind 15 aces. He won 70 percent of the points on serve and saved both break points he faced.

Also Monday, Mikhail Youzhny routed Daniel Gimeno-Traver 6-0, 6-0; Jarkko Nieminen ripped Viktor Troicki 6-1, 6-2; Benoit Paire beat Ivan Dodig 6-4, 6-4; Pablo Andujar got past Jeremy Chardy 6-7 (4-7), 7-5, 6-2; Nikolay Davydenko eliminated Daniel Brands 6-2, 6-4; and Edouard Roger-Vasselin defeated Robin Haase 6-3, 6-2.