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Ferrer begins grass court campaign with win

David Ferrer began his grass court season with a win © PA Photos

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Spaniard David Ferrer got his grass court season underway with a win at the UNICEF Open on Tuesday, defeating qualifier Pierre-Ludovic Duclos 6-4 6-4 in Hertogenbosch.

Ferrer, whose only career grass court title came in the event four years ago, was made to work by his unfancied opponent - especially when he was broken in the second set - but eventually won through to book a second round tie against Leonardo Mayer.

Second seed Victor Troicki was felled by former Wimbledon semi-finalist Xavier Malisse, who won 7-6(4) 6-2. Malisse has reached the last four of the UNICEF Open in each of the last two years.

Elsewhere, eighth seed Lukas Kubot defeated Dudi Sela 6-1 6-2 but seventh seed Alexander Bogomolov Jr was not so fortunate, succumbing in straight sets to Edouard Roger-Vasselin.

In Eastbourne at the AEGON International Andy Roddick came up against fellow American Sam Querrey and was 5-2 up in the first set when his opponent retired, thus handing him a spot in the second round. It was Roddick's first victory since March.

Top seed Richard Gasquet is out of the tournament: he cruised thorugh the first set against Australia's Marinko Matosevic, winning 6-1, then dropped the next two 7-6 as his preparations for Wimbledon were seriously disrupted.

Philipp Kohlschreiber, who beat Rafael Nadal on his way to the Halle semis last week, continued to look a force on grass as he overcame Go Soeda 6-4 7-5.

Fifth seed Julien Benneteau was surprisingly sent packing by Yen-Hsun Lu, who enjoyed a 6-3 2-6 7-6(4) success.

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