• Rogers Cup

Tsonga eases through but Hewitt beaten in Canada

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga won through in Canada with no real issues © Getty Images

Enlarge

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga made a comfortable start to his Rogers Cup campaign as John Isner was upset in his first match for the second straight tournament.

Tsonga, the 13th seed, beat fellow Frenchman Edouard Roger-Vasselin 7-6(3) 6-1 but Isner suffered defeat to Ivan Dodig

Isner, the 10th seed, had 13 aces in a 6-4 6-7(4) 6-3 loss to Dodig in the Croatian's first singles match in more than two months because of a broken rib. Isner managed to win a second-set tiebreak to stay alive, but Dodig earned a big break in the third set to grab control again.

Isner lost 6-7(5) 6-3 7-6(6) to countryman Steve Johnson at the Citi Open in Washington on Wednesday and then complained about his secondary court assignment. The loss to Dodig came on a grandstand court at Rexall Centre.

The match was originally scheduled for the afternoon in the stadium, but rain wreaked havoc on the day's schedule.

"Obviously it was not easy," Dodig said. "It was long day for us, and of course changing the court it's also a little bit like making you to think about it."

Isner was not made available to reporters.

Elsewhere, qualifier Michael Russell eliminated France's Nicholas Mahut 6-3 6-3 and Feliciano Lopez beat fellow Spainard Roberto Bautista Agut 7-6(7) 3-6.

The nightcap on centre court featured Canadian wild card Peter Polansky beating 2013 Wimbledon semi-finalist Jerzy Janowicz 7-6(5) 6-4.

Lleyton Hewitt and Julien Benneteau had to deal with two rain delays during their match earlier in the day. When it was finally over, Benneteau advanced to the second round with a 6-1 6-2 victory. The 32 year old had to adjust on the fly after the second rain delay, which lasted two hours.

"I tried to keep the same momentum and the same rhythm of the match," Benneteau said. "I just tried to stay focused to be able to play the same way."

Benneteau was leading 4-1 in the first set when the first brief rain delay occurred. He was up 4-2 in the second when storms moving through the Toronto area halted action across the tournament.

"The rain delay, it's never easy but it's for both players," he said. "I had two break points before, 15-40 and then a deuce. So it's never easy."

Benneteau also said it is never easy facing Hewitt, who is ranked 42nd in the world having not topped the rankings in 11 years.

"He's a great fighter and to beat him you have to play solid," Benneteau said. "You have to do a good match. It's the kind of player that if your level is not good enough, you don't win."

No. 15 seed Marin Cilic also moved on with a 6-2 4-6 7-5 win against Denis Istomin. The Croatian said Istomin was dealing with a shoulder injury that led to some unpredictability.

"He had some shots were coming off good, some not, and it was difficult to know what was going to come," Cilic said. "It got a bit complicated."

In other early action, France's Jeremy Chardy beat Argentina's Federico Delbonis, 6-3 5-7 6-4. French qualifier Benoit Paire saw off Colombian Alejandro Falla 6-7 6-4 6-2 and American Tim Smyczek downed Tobias Kamke 6-3 6-2.

The lengthy rain delay caused some changes to Monday's schedule. The Rogers Cup Hall of Fame induction ceremony was also postponed because of the weather. Stefan Edberg, now coach to Roger Federer, and former Rogers Cup Master of Ceremonies Don Goodwin will now be inducted on Tuesday.

This article originally appeared on ESPN.com

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd