Black Tennis Pros

LYON, France (AFP) — Top seed and home favourite Jo-Wilfried Tsonga squeezed past Kevin Kim and into the second round of the Lyon ATP event here Tuesday.

The unseeded American belied his 87th world ranking to give Tsonga a run for his money but the 2008 Australian Open finalist eventually prevailed 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/5).

The unexpectedly tight first round duel had the Gerland crowd captivated for an hour and a half.

In the second tie break Tsonga was trailing 5-3 but he managed to raise his game to close out the set and match.

The 24-year-old is aiming for his sixth career title and his fourth this season after wins in Japan, Johannesburg and Marseille.

Elsewhere Croatian third seed Ivan Ljubicic, who took the Lyon title in 2001, ended the hopes of Argentina's Martin Vassallo Arguello with a 6-3, 6-4 success.

Tsonga's compatriots enjoyed differing fortunes.

Veteran Fabrice Santoro, a winner here back in 1997, was knocked out by Spanish eighth seed Albert Montanes 6-4, 6-4, but Michael Llodra lives on after brushing aside Algerian Lamine Ouahab 6-1, 6-2.

Two qualifiers, France's David Guez and South African Kevin Anderson, respectively saw off Rajeev Ram of the United States and German Simon Greul to also make it into the second round.

The hard charging Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and his newly close cropped doo brought the pain to Argentine Agustin Calleri today during the first round of the Australian Open Series at the Brisbane International. Tsonga defeated Calleri 6-2, 7-5.

Post match, after learning that the no. 1 seed, Serbian Novak Djokovic, had been beaten by Latvian Ernests Gulbis, Tsonga wasn't very surprised. “For me it was not really a surprise. He is going to be the man who is going to make a surprise this year,” Tsonga said.

“Every match he played better and better. For me it was not a surprise to see this result.”

As one who seems to have a bit of Djokovic's number, Gulbis should take this compliment from Tsonga to heart.