Roddick aces Mahut at Grand Prix

LYON, France (AP) -- Top-seeded Andy Roddick had 18 aces and did not face a break point in beating Nicolas Mahut of France 7-6 (5), 6-4 in the first round of the Lyon Grand Prix on Tuesday.

Second-seeded Richard Gasquet and third-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga also advanced.

Roddick, who won Lyon in 2005, earned the only break of the match in the second set. Mahut, who also had 18 aces, saved three break points in the first set.

Roddick hurt his knee on Monday while playing doubles but said the injury has healed.

He next plays fellow American Robby Ginepri, who ousted defending champion Sebastien Grosjean of France 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-4.

Roddick was already looking forward to next month's Masters Cup even though he still needs to qualify for the elite eight-man event in Shanghai.

"It's maybe a more open tournament this year," he said. "There's not only Roger (Federer), but others like (Andy) Murray who are playing very well, or (Juan Martin) del Potro. It promises to be a great tournament."

Gasquet rallied to beat Santiago Giraldo of Colombia 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (3), while French countryman Tsonga had 14 aces in a 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 win over compatriot Marc Gicquel.

Gasquet, who has dropped to 15th in the ATP rankings, pressured Giraldo's serve throughout but could take only two of his seven break-point chances.

Nicolas Lapentti of Ecuador beat sixth-seeded Ivo Karlovic of Croatia 7-6 (4), 6-3, while Fabrice Santoro defeated Fabio Fognini of Italy 6-4, 6-1, and Andreas Seppi of Italy beat David Guez of France 6-2, 7-5.