Benneteau moves into second round at ATP's stop in Sydney

SYDNEY, Jan. 6 (UPI) -- Sixth-seeded Julien Benneteau was among first-round winners Monday on the men's side of the Apia International Sydney, a final tune-up for the Australian Open.

Benneteau breezed past Matthew Ebden 6-2, 6-2 without facing a break point. Benneteau lost nine points in his eight games serving, winning nearly 80 percent of the points on serve. He also took 26-of-51 of the points when Ebden served.

Benneteau converted both of his break chances, dropped two points on serve and won 70 percent of the points overall in winning the first set.

Denis Istomin also needed less than an hour to claim his first-round win, beating Pablo Andujar 6-1, 6-2. He also didn't see a break point, losing 12 points in his eight games at serve.

Monday's other match went the distance, with Lukas Rosol emerging with a 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 7-6 (7-1) victory over Joao Sousa. Rosol had one break in each set.

World No. 5-ranked Juan Martin del Potro is the top seed for the Apia International and unseeded Bernard Tomic is the defending champion.

The event and the Heineken Open in New Zealand are the final ATP tournaments ahead of the start of the Australian Open next Monday.