Nieminen into Open Sud de France 2nd round

Jarkko Nieminen. (Frank Franklin II/AP)

MONTPELLIER, France — Finnish veteran Jarkko Nieminen beat eighth-seeded Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany 7-6 (5), 6-3 to reach the second round of the Open Sud de France on Tuesday.

The 33-year-old Nieminen broke his opponent’s serve three times and next meets either Japan’s Tatsuma Ito or Steve Darcis of Belgium.

Meanwhile Kenny de Schepper, one of several Frenchmen to reach the second round, had 10 aces in a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 win against Turkey’s Marsel Ilhan and next meets top-seeded Gael Monfils of France, the defending champion.

Edouard Roger-Vasselin, Paul-Henri Mathieu and wild card Lucas Pouille also advanced.

Roger-Vasselin served 14 aces as he beat Germany’s Andreas Beck 3-6, 6-3, 6-4; Mathieu downed qualifier Taro Daniel of Japan 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-1, and Pouille beat Russian Alexander Kudryavtsev 6-4, 7-6 (4).

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