Struff exits Montpellier

Montpellier, France (SportsNetwork.com) – Finnish veteran Jarkko Nieminen
ousted eighth-seeded German Jan-Lennard Struff in straight sets Tuesday
at the Open Sud de France tennis event.

The 33-year-old left-hander Nieminen dismissed Struff in 7-6 (7-5), 6-3
fashion at Montpellier Arena.

Also on Day 2, French wild card Lucas Pouille topped Russian Alexander
Kudryavtsev 6-4, 7-6 (7-4); Israeli Dudi Sela dismissed Estonian qualifier
Jurgen Zopp 6-3, 6-4; Frenchman Edouard Roger-Vasselin overcame German Andreas
Beck 3-6, 6-3, 6-4; and France’s Kenny De Schepper outlasted Turk Marsel Ilhan
6-4, 3-6, 6-3.

This week’s top seed, two-time champion Gael Monfils, bested then reigning
champ and two-time winner Richard Gasquet in last year’s all-French finale.

The top-four seeds — Monfils, Gilles Simon, Philipp Kohlschreiber and Gasquet
— all received opening-round byes here.

Monfils will open his week against his compatriot De Schepper.

The 2015 Montpellier champion will earn $90,000.