8^th seed Gilles Muller fired 29 aces to smash his way to an intriguing 6-7, 6-1, 7-6 win over last year’s runner-up Edouard Roger-Vasselin at the Aircel Chennai Open on Monday.

46^th-ranked Muller banked on his big serve to pull off the battle of nerves to triumph over the French journeyman in 2 hours and 23 minutes.

Borna Coric, the youngest player in the top 100 of the men’s tour, also kicked-off his campaign with a win by making short work of higher-ranked Robin Haase 6-2, 6-2 in the first round.

Austrian Andreas Haider-Maurer was fortunate to prevail over 7^th seed Marcel Granollers, as the latter pulled out of the match during the third set due to an injury.

FIRST ROUND RESULTS – SINGLES

B Coric d. R Haase (6-2, 6-2)

(8) G Muller d. E Roger-Vasselin (6-7, 6-1, 7-6)

A Haider-Maurer d. (7) M Granollers (3-6, 7-6, 2-0 ret.)

FIRST ROUND RESULTS – DOUBLES

P C Busta/G Garcia-Lopez d. (4) O Marach/M Venus (2-6, 7-5, 12-10)

Y Lu/J Marray d. (W) (6-3, 4-6, 10-6)

(Image Courtesy: Zee News)