SAINT BRIEUC, March 29, 2016

The ATP Challenger Tour returns to Northern France for the 27th edition of the €42,500 Open Harmonie Mutuelle, held at Salle Steredenn in St. Brieuc.

Second seed Daniel Evans, who captured his first title of the season in Drummondville eight days ago, started his title bid on Tuesday in Brittany with a 7-6, 6-2 victory over Salvatore Caruso. The world number 125 from Birmingham hit five aces and converted three of his nine break points to prevail in one hour and 44 minutes. Evans will either face fellow Briton Edward Corrie or David Guez.

The tournament’s number three Karen Khachanov saved all two break points he faced to secure a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Tak Khunn Wang. The world number 136 from Russia sent down nine aces and advanced in one hour and 21 minutes awaiting Aleksandr Nedovysesov, who took out Grega Zemlja 7-6, 6-1 in one hour and 12 minutes.

Gregoire Barrere (photo: ATP Challenger St .Brieuc)

Gregoire Barrere knocked out fifth seed Vincent Millot 7-5, 6-4 in an all-French-encounter. The 22-year-old from Saint Maur Des Fosses won 72% of his first service points and capitalized on five of his nine break point opportunities to seal victory in one hour and 22 minutes. Barrere will play with Constant Lestienne another Frenchman in the second round, who defeated Maxime Chazal 6-1, 7-6 in one hour and 34 minutes.

The tournament’s number one Jan-Lennard Struff will start his St. Brieuc campaign on Wednesday, facing French qualifier Sadio Doumbia. The winner will play Tobias Kamke, who swept aside Ramkumar Ramanathan 7-6, 6-1 in one hour and 34 minutes.