Mon Sep 29 15:14:53 2008

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Moya wins; Ancic drops Metz opener

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Metz, France (Sports Network) - Unseeded former world No. 1 Carlos Moya advanced, while eighth-seeded Croat Mario Ancic came up a first-round loser Monday at the $540,000 Open de Moselle tennis tournament.

Rising 20-year-old Latvian Ernests Gulbis grounded Ancic in 7-6 (7-3), 6-4 fashion on the indoor hardcourt at Les Arenes, while the former French Open champion Moya snuck past fellow Spaniard Albert Montanes 6-1, 4-6, 6-4.

In other opening-round action, Serbian Janko Tipsarevic topped France's own Jeremy Chardy, a wild card this week, 7-6 (7-5), 7-5 and Jose Acasuso knocked out fellow Argentine Guillermo Canas 6-3, 2-6, 6-3.

Spaniard Tommy Robredo bested Brit Andy Murray in last year's Metz finale, but neither man is playing here this year. This week's top seeds are 6-foot-10 Croat Ivo Karlovic and French favorite Gilles Simon.

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