Marseille, France (SportsNetwork.com) - Reigning champion Jo-Wilfried Tsonga secured a berth in the quarterfinals at the Open 13 indoor hardcourt tennis event.
The second-seeded Tsonga held off former world No. 3 Russian Nikolay Davydenko 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (10-8) at Palais des Sports.
Tsonga beat Czech Tomas Berdych in last year's marquee final to capture a second title here in five years.
In opening-round action involving seeds, No. 7 Frenchman Julien Benneteau dismissed Dutchman Jesse Huta Galung 6-1, 6-4 and No. 8 Nicolas Mahut beat fellow Frenchman Kenny De Schepper 7-6 (7-2), 6-3. Benneteau was the runner-up here in 2010.
Also in round one, German Jan-Lennard Struff overcame Frenchman David Guez 3-6, 6-1, 6-1; Frenchman Michael Llodra, the 2010 champion and two-time runner-up, topped Slovak Lukas Lacko 6-3, 7-6 (7-2); Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut edged out German Dustin Brown 7-5, 4-6, 6-3; and Lithuanian Ricardas Berankis was leading Jan Hajek 6-5 in the first set when the Czech retired on Day 3.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.