AIX-EN-PROVENCE, May 9, 2018

Three of the seven seeded players in action advanced to the second round of the €127,000 Open du Pays d’Aix on Tuesday. The tournament’s No. 1 John Millman emerged victorious from the all-Australian-affair with #NextGenATP Alexei Popyrin 6-2, 5-7, 6-2.

The World No. 70 gained his second win in as many meetings between the two, breaking the teenager’s serve six times to prevail after two hours and two minutes. Millman will next face Frenchman Constant Lestienne.

In-form Briton Cameron Norrie also advanced. The No. 4 seed rallied past Kenny de Schepper of France 1-6, 6-2, 6-1. Norrie won 70 per cent of his first service points and 54 of the total points played to seal victory in one hour and 33 minutes. Next up for Norrie, who is sitting on a career high World No. 103, will be Elias Ymer of Sweden.

Thiago Monteiro defeated Mats Moraing from Germany 6-2, 6-3. The eighth seed from Brazil was in control of the encounter, didn’t face a break point, capitalizing on three of his own to advance in only 56 minutes. Monteiro will next take on Bradley Klahn from the United States.

No. 5 seed Calvin Hemery fell to Croatian youngster Nino Serdarusic, who continues his good run of form after finishing runner-up in Ostrava last Sunday. The 21-year-old Zagreb native won 7-6, 6-2 in one hour and 27 minutes. Serdarusic will next challenge Slovakian Norbert Gombos.

Third favourite Radu Albot lost to Guido Andreozzi of Argentina 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, who will play compatriot Maximo Gonzalez in the second round. Sebastian Ofner from Austria battled past No. 7 seed Sergiy Stakhovksy from Ukraine 3-6, 6-2, 7-5 and faces Germany’s Oscar Otte next. Peter Polansky was knocked out by French wild card entry Johan Tatlot 5-7, 7-5, 3-6. The tournament’s No. 6 from Canada lost after two hours and 27 minutes.

Photo Gallery (by Brigitte Urban):