Karen Khachanov fought back from one set down to upset David Ferrer 6-7 6-3 6-4 at the Open Sud de France in Montpellier after 2 hours and 28 minutes in their first head-to-head match.
Khachanov hit 11 aces and saved five of the seven break points he faced. Ferrer fended off eight of the twelve break point chances but he dropped his serve four times.
The match was decided when Khachanov broke serve in the third game of the decisive set and held his service games until the 10th game when he served out for the match. Ferrer saved two match points on serve in the ninth game, but was unable to get the break back.
Khachanov started the year with a quarter final in Auckland, a tournament where Ferrer reached the semifinals. The Russian player then lost to Juan Martin Del Potro in the second round at the Australian Open. He will face Ricardas Berankis, who edged past Julien Benneteau.
Gilles Simon battled past German qualifier Yannick Maden 6-1 4-6 7-6 after 2 hours and 23 minutes. The Frenchman faced five break points and dropped his serve three times. Maden saved six of the ten break points he faced.
Simon got the break in the fourth game of the opening set and fended off two break points in the next game to open up a 4-1 lead. Maden dropped his serve again in the sixth game. Simon closed the first set after 34 minutes, as Maden sent a forehand long.
Maden saved three break points in the second set. He broke serve in the 10th game to clinch the second set by 6-4 forcing the match to the third set. Simon broke serve in the third game of the decider after Maden made a double fault. The German broke straight back in the fourth game to draw level to 2-2, as Simon sent a forehand beyond the baseline. Maden held serve in the third game before earning his second break in the sixth game. Simon broke straight back in the seventh game. Both players held on their serve to set up a tie-break. Simon got four mini-breaks to seal the tie-break 7-3 to set up a second round against David Goffin.
Jeremy Chardy came back from one set down to beat Stefanos Tsitsipas 4-6 7-5 7-5 in a tight match with six break points. Chardy fended off four of the six break points he faced and got a double break in the decisive set to take a close win.
Carlos Tabernier battled past Norbert Gombos 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (7-1) after 1 hour and 53 minutes after saving 10 of the 11 break points he faced.
