Frenchman Richard Gasquet defeated compatriot Michael Llodra 6-2 4-6 6-3 in the opening round of the Rogers Cup in Toronto.
Playing for the first time since his runner-up showing at Stuttgart on July 13, 10th seed Gasquet shook off a break of serve that enabled Llodra to seal the second set by breaking back twice in the third to complete the win in one hour and 45 minutes.
Gasquet appeared in a title match of this event in 2006. He started off that run by dispatching a Frenchman in Fabrice Santoro before ending up as a runner-up to Roger Federer.
Next up for Gasquet will be the winner between German Philipp Kohlschreiber and a yet-to-be determined qualifier.
Also moving on before an afternoon rain delay was ninth-ranked Stanislas Wawrinka.
The Swiss player advanced into the second round for the second straight year with a 6-4 7-6 (7-4) victory over Simone Bolelli of Italy.
With the victory, Wawrinka set up a possible second-round match-up with surprising Wimbledon semi-finalist Marat Safin.
Safin, a winner of this event in 2000, will open against American Sam Querrey on Tuesday.
A pair of seeded players also advanced with straight-sets victories. Tommy Robredo of Spain, the 12th seed, defeated Canadian wild card Frederic Niemeyer 7-6 (7-4) 6-1, while 14th seed Fernando Gonzalez of Chile dispatched Frenchman Julien Benneteau 6-2 6-1.
Unseeded American Robby Ginepri struggled to get past Paul-Henri Mathieu in his opening match 6-3 4-6 6-4 setting up a second-round contest with fifth seed David Ferrer.
The top seed of this tournament is Federer, who will be playing for the first time since his epic five-set loss to Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon ended his run of five straight titles at the All England Club.
Federer had a chance for a third title in this tournament denied last year by Novak Djokovic, who is the third seed of this tournament.
The sixth of nine ATP Masters Series tournaments, the Rogers Cup has nine of the top 10 players in the draw, including the third-seeded Nadal, the reigning French Open and Wimbledon champion.
The 2005 winner of this event, Nadal has a first-round bye, as do the top eight players in the draw.
Elsewhere on Monday, German Nicolas Kiefer defeated American Mardy Fish 7-5 7-6 (7-4), while wildcard Frank Dancevic beat Mario Ancic 6-3 6-4.
Mikhail Youzhny, the 15th seed, progressed after a 7-6 (7-1) 6-2 win over Andreas Seppi while 11th seed Feliciano Lopez defeated Radek Stepanek 4-6 6-3 6-4, Jose Acasuso defeated Ernests Gulbis 6-7 (1-7) 6-3 7-5 and Nicolas Mahut beat Janko Tipsarevic 6-3 6-7 (5-7) 6-2.
Results from the first round of the Rogers Cup, Toronto
9-Stanislas Wawrinka (Switzerland) def. Simone Bolelli (Italy) 6-4 7-6 (7-4)
10-Richard Gasquet (France) def. Michael Llodra (France) 6-2 4-6 6-3
Feliciano Lopez (Spain) def. 11-Radek Stepanek (Czech Republic) 4-6 6-3 6-4
12-Tommy Robredo (Spain) def. Frederic Niemeyer (Canada) 7-6 (7-4) 6-1
14-Fernando Gonzalez (Chile) def. Julien Benneteau (France) 6-2 6-1
15-Mikhail Youzhny (Russia) def. Andreas Seppi (Italy) 7-6 (7-1) 6-2
Nicolas Kiefer (Germany) def. Mardy Fish (USA) 7-5 7-6 (7-4)
Robbie Ginepri (USA) def. Paul-Henri Mathieu (France) 6-3 4-6 6-4
Nicolas Mahut (France) def. Janko Tipsarevic (Serbia) 6-3 6-7 (5-7) 6-2
Frank Dancevic (Canada) def. Mario Ancic (Croatia) 6-3 6-4
Jose Acasuso (Argentina) def. Ernests Gulbis (Latvia) 6-7 (1-7) 6-3 7-5