Nick Kyrgios to face Jaziri at Open 13
Nick Kyrgios will open his title defence at the Open 13 against Tunisian Malek Jaziri. (AFP)
Nick Kyrgios will begin his title defence at the Open 13 in Marseille with a second round match against Tunisian Malek Jaziri.
Jaziri advanced to the second round with a 6-3 6-3 victory over Russia's Andrey Kuznetsov and the 33-year-old should provide a welcome sight for Kyrgios as he begins to defend his first ever ATP title.
The 21-year-old Australian holds a 2-0 record over Jaziri, having beaten him in 2013 US Open qualifying and at the 2015 Australian Open.
Kyrgios looked to be in good touch in his first round doubles match at the tournament as he and fellow Australian Matt Reid dispatched third-seeded pair Rohan Bopanna and Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan 6-4 6-4.
Kyrgios won his maiden singles title at last year's event when he defeated Maric Cilic 6-2 7-6 (7-3) in the final.
Seeded third in this year's event Kyrgios is drawn to meet German rising star and recent Montpellier champion Alexander Zverev in the quarter-finals.
In other first round action Russian veteran Mikhail Youzhny took down Greek teenager Stefanos Tsisipas 6-1 4-6 7-5 while two-time champion Gilles Simon of France rallied to beat Russia's Karen Khachanov of Russia 4-6 7-5 6-3.
The seventh-seeded Simon, who won the first of 12 career titles here 10 years ago, next faces either countryman Julien Benneteau or 17-year-old Canadian Denis Shapovalov.
