Los Angeles, CA – Xavier Malisse and Marinko Matosevic were first-round winners in the Farmers Classic on Tuesday.
The fifth-seeded Belgian Malisse cruised to a 6-4, 6-1 victory over American Nicolas Meister. Malisse fired seven aces and saved 4-of-5 break points, while No. 6 Austrian Marinko Matosevic knocked out fellow countryman Chris Guccione 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.
Ricardas Berankis of Lithuania upset seventh-seeded German Bjorn Phau 7-6 (10-8), 6-4.
In unseeded play, German Tobias Kamke earned a 6-2, 5-7, 7-6 (7-4) triumph over American James Blake, Russia's Igor Andreev took down Israeli Dudi Sela 7-6 (7-4), Italy's Paolo Lorenzi dropped American Bradley Klahn, 6-4, 3-6, 6-0, Austria's Matthew Ebden edged German Michael Berrer 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-4) while a battle between Americans saw Michael Russell defeat Jesse Levine 6-3, 6-4.
Ernests Gulbis of Latvia defeated American Mardy Fish in last year's Farmers Classic final.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.