Florian Mayer made a successful return from injury at the Monte Carlo Masters with a straight-sets triumph over Mikhail Youzhny on Sunday.
The German has not featured on the ATP Tour for over a year due to a groin injury, but made a winning comeback as he sent the world number 61 crashing out 7-6 (10-8) 6-4.
Mayer – who does not currently have a world ranking – served superbly in the opening games of the match and looked on course for the set when he broke in the seventh.
However, Youzhny broke back and they needed a tie-break to separate them, Mayer eventually prevailing as he converted a third set point.
The second set saw nine holds of serve as they continued to match each other, before Youzhny was broken for only the second time in the contest to give Mayer the win.
He is joined in the second round by Bernard Tomic after the Australian came from a set down to beat the big-serving Lukas Rosol 4-6 6-2 6-3.
Victor Estrella Burgos also went through on the opening day of the tournament as he cruised past Simone Bolelli 6-4 7-6 (7-5) to set up a clash with fifth seed David Ferrer.