Today’s Men’s News (4/16) – Monte Carlo

Written by: Staff on 16th April 2013

Today's Men's News (4/16) - Monte Carlo

epa03663161 Julien Benneteau of France returns the ball to Milos Raonic of Canada during their first round match at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters tournament in Roquebrune Cap Martin, France, 15 April 2013. EPA/SEBASTIEN NOGIER |

Monte Carlo

Milos Raonic rode last weekend’s Davis Cup momentum for Canada into an opening win as the 12th seed reversed the day’s upset trend by dispatching Julien Benneteau 6-1, 6-4 on the clay. Otherwise, it was a start to forget for the French as the run-up to Roland Garros began for real.

Raonic will next run into Jarkko Nieminen after the match-tough Finn hammered slumping Serb Viktor Troicki 6-1, 6-2. The win in 72 minutes pushed the career record of Raonic to 3-2 at the iconic Country Club venue.

The hero of Canada’s Davis Cup success over Italy in Vancouver helped his performance as he stepped onto clay for the first time this season. “I played well today,” said the Canadian, who won with 15 aces, three breaks of serve and 28 winners. “I’ve had four days of clay training and feel my game is off to a good start. It’s a long clay season, my next goal is to win my next match.

French losses mounted after Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut started off the days with an upset of 11th seed Gilles Simon 6-3, 7-6(6). That was followed by Raonic’s win and then made worse, with Spaniard Pablo Andujar putting out Jeremy Chardy 6-7 (4), 7-5, 6-2. Croatian ninth seed Marin Cilic needed to work to get past Horacio Zeballos 6-2, 6-7 (6-8), 6-2.

Class clown Fabio Fognini upset fellow Italian Andreas Seppi, the 15th seed, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 while Benoit Paire saved face for France as he beat Croatian Ivan Dodig 6-4, 6-4. He was aided by compatriot Edouard Roger-Vasselin, who beat Dutchman Robin Haase 6-3, 6-2. Old stager Nikolay Davydenko showed flashes of his one-time top five form in a defeat of German qualifier Daniel Brands 6-3, 6-4