French veteran Paul-Henri Mathieu made an emphatic return to form in the first round of the Monte Carlo Open on Monday as he took just 67 minutes to thrash American Donald Young 6-0 6-1.
The former world number 12, now languishing at 352 after being sidelined by a knee injury last year, was in fine form against the world number 50, breaking six of his opponent's seven service games.
Mathieu was joined in the second round by 15th-seeded Austrian Jurgen Melzer, who beat Lukasz Kubot of Poland 6-2 7-5, and 16th seed Alexander Dolgopolov, who beat Argentina's Juan Ignacio Chela 6-2 6-2.
Australian youngster Bernard Tomic was the day's fastest winner, taking just 62 minutes to beat Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan 6-4 6-3, while Finland's Jarkko Nieminen was a straight-sets winner against Radek Stepanek to set up a clash with seven-time defending champion Rafael Nadal.
Spanish 13th seed Fernando Verdasco had to come from behind to beat Belgium's Olivier Rochus 4-6 6-2 7-5, while there were also wins for Albert Montanes, who ousted Milos Raonic, Philipp Kohlschreiber and Julien Benneteau.
