Arab No1 Malek Jaziri survived a difficult start to his Roland Garros qualifying campaign, needing almost three hours to edge past French wildcard Quentin Halys.
The Tunisian world No116, who is seeded 11th in the qualifying draw of the season’s second Grand Slam, beat the 17-year-old Halys 7-5, 3-6, 8-6 to book a second round clash with Dutchman Jesse Huta Galung.
Jaziri is attempting to feature in the Roland Garros main draw for the second time, having made round two on debut in 2012.
The 30-year-old from Bizerte has risen 52 spots in the rankings from the start of the year thanks to impressive showings on the Challenger Tour as well as a quarter-final appearance at the ATP 500 tournament in Dubai.
Jaziri and Huta Galung have faced off only once before, back in 2010 in a qualifying round for a Challenger in Monza, a match that Huta Galung won comfortably 6-3,6-1.
Meanwhile, Arab No2 Mohamed Safwat could only play 20 minutes of his match against qualifying top seed Paolo Lorenzi before rain halted the clash, pushing it to today. Lorenzi was leading the Egyptian 3-1.
Women’s qualifying commences today with Tunisian former Roland Garros junior champion Ons Jabeur in first round action against Australian No16 seed Olivia Rogowska.
Elsewhere in Dusseldorf, Juan Monaco kicked off his title defence with victory over home veteran Benjamin Becker.
The Argentine, who has plummeted to No54 in the world after peaking at No10 two years ago, beat Becker 6-2, 6-1 in 57 minutes to set-up a second round encounter with Spaniard Marcel Granollers.
“Today, I felt something special,” said Monaco. “I played a great match and I am looking forward to tomorrow.”
Former world No3 Nikolay Davydenko also advanced in Germany, posting his first win since mid-March 6-3, 6-1 over Dudi Sela.
Over in Nice, top seed John Isner plays his first match today against fellow American Jack Sock, who knocked out Kenny de Schepper 6-4, 6-2 in 68 minutes.
No2 seed Ernests Gulbis faces powerful lefty Martin Klizan, who dispatched Australian Bernard Tomic 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Women’s action in Strasbourg saw the struggling Julia Goerges upset top-seeded Sloane Stephens 6-3, 6-2 in the opening round.
