Tue Sep 30 15:58:58 2008

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Karlovic advances; Simon falls in France

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Metz, France (Sports Network) - Top-seeded Croat Ivo Karlovic moved into the second round, while second-seeded Frenchman Gilles Simon suffered a first- round setback Tuesday at the $540,000 Open de Moselle tennis tournament.

The 6-foot-10 Karlovic dropped the first set 4-6 against Marcos Baghdatis, but was leading 2-1 in the second when his opponent from Cyprus retired from the match due to a back injury, on the indoor hardcourt here at Les Arenes.

Karlovic will face former world No. 1 Carlos Moya in the round of 16.

Meanwhile, Simon was ousted by wild card and fellow Frenchman Nicolas Mahut 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 on Day 2 here, while another upset came when Argentine Eduardo Schwank knocked out third-seeded Spaniard Nicolas Almagro 7-6 (7-5), 6-2.

Two other seeds avoided the upset bug, as No. 4 Paul-Henri Mathieu mauled fellow Frenchman Nicolas Devilder 6-0, 6-2 and No. 5 Russian Dmitry Tursunov overcame qualifier and once-promising Frenchman Thierry Ascione 6-7 (3-7), 6-2, 6-4.

In other opening-round action, Romanian Victor Hanescu handled Croat Ivan Ljubicic 6-1, 7-6 (7-4), Frenchman Marc Gicquel grounded Spaniard Marcel Granollers 6-3, 6-2 and French qualifier Romain Jouan outlasted Argentine Agustin Calleri 5-7, 6-1, 6-2. Ljubicic titled here back in 2005.

The 2008 Metz titlist will take home $85,000.