Benneteau boosts French morale with Kamke win

ROTTERDAM, Netherlands (AFP) –

France’s Julien Benneteau returns the ball to his opponent Richard Gasquet of France during the Open Sud de France world tour ATP Series quarter final tennis match on February 8, 2013 in Montpellier southern France. Gasquet won the match. Benneteau joined compatriot Gilles Simon in the second round of the Rotterdam World Tennis on Tuesday as he beat lucky loser Tobias Kamke of Germany 6-3, 6-2.

Frenchman Julien Benneteau joined compatriot Gilles Simon in the second round of the Rotterdam World Tennis on Tuesday as he beat lucky loser Tobias Kamke of Germany 6-3, 6-2.

Their progress – Simon eased through on Monday – offset the disappointment of their number one Jo-Wilfrid Tsonga going out on Monday to unheralded Dutchman Igor Sijsling 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 6-4.

The victory over Kamke, who was drafted in to the tournament proper when another Frenchman Michael Llodra pulled out through illness, sets Benneteau up nicely to reach the quarter-finals for the third time here.

He next faces Romanian Victor Hanescu.

Dutch players enjoyed mixed fortunes on Tuesday, with Thiemo de Bakker moving into the second round as Russian opponent Mikhail Youzhny was forced to retire in the third set with a hip problem.

De Bakker will await the winner from Wednesday’s match between top seed and holder Roger Federer and Grega Zemlja of Slovenia.

Latvian qualifier Ernests Gulbis admitted he had little to lose in his comprehensive defeat of Dutchman Robin Haase 6-2, 6-1, which took just 50 minutes with the winner breaking four times.

Gulbis, who reached a career-high ranking of 21st two years ago, now stands 132 and finished out of the ranking top 100 last season for the first time since 2006.

“I’m sorry Holland for beating a local,” joked the Latvian. “I played well and had almost perfect timing. I really didn’t give him any chances.

“I don’t have many expectations, my ranking is so low I barely got into qualifying anyway.”