Verdasco, Monfils advance in Argentina

Fernando Verdasco and Gael Monfils won their first-round matches in the Argentina Open on Tuesday, but Australian Open semi-finalist Kyle Edmund withdrew from the tournament due to illness.

The eighth-seeded Verdasco advanced on clay in Buenos Aires with a 6-2 7-5 victory against Thiago Monteiro of Brazil and next plays Guido Pella of Argentina.

Monfils beat Uruguayan Pablo Cuevas 6-1 6-4. The Frenchman faces Dusan Lajovic of Serbia in the next round.

Edmund withdrew from his scheduled match against Spain's Roberto Carballes Baena because of a throat infection.

Top-seeded Dominic Thiem of Austria plays on Wednesday.