Round one matches at the Moselle Open were coming to a close and on Court Practice Dominguez, Nicolas Mahut defeated Quentin Halys 6-3, 6-4 to book his spot in the second round. Awaiting the eighth seed is Illya Marchenko, who battled past Andreas Seppi earlier in the day.
Nicolas Mahut grabs lone break to win the opening set
It didn't take long for the first break point of the match to come. In just the fifth point of the set, Halys managed to grab a break point. However, Mahut denied the 19-year-old and went on to hold serve to get underway. On the other hand, Halys started with a comfortable hold of serve to love to get on the scoreboard to bring the match to 1-1. The fourth match of the game proved to be the longest of the set. The teenager was put under pressure a few times. After failing to hold serve two times before, he eventually held his serve and nerve to draw level at 2-2.
Just two games later and the experienced 34-year-old put the youngster under pressure once more. With the score at deuce, the world number 154 fired a double-fault before the world number 40, from the Halys serve fired a backhand return winner down the line to get the break and go 4-2 up. A confident hold of serve to love gave Mahut a 5-2 lead. The 19-year-old would hold serve to love to give Mahut the chance of serving it out. The two-time Grand Slam winner held his serve to love and claimed the first set, 6-3.
Mahut wins second set; advances to the second round
The start of the second set saw four holds of serve as the set moved to 2-2. Halys played a short backhand which was punished by Mahut who hit a forehand winner to gain the set's first break point opportunity. The 19-year-old then went and saved the point en route to holding his own serve and staying ahead at 2-3. The world number 40 held his serve to love before then gaining a break point at 40-30. The 19-year-old struck an ace down the middle to deny Mahut.
Nevertheless, Mahut came back at the teen and following an unforced error, Mahut had a second break point chance. After hitting a forehand long, Mahut got the all-important break and went in front for the first time in the set at 4-3. The 34-year-old held serve and consolidated the break. Just to games later and the eighth would gain his first match points with his fifth ace. However, Halys saved the first match point and was determined to go down fighting. Just a point later, Mahut sealed the victory and booked his place in the second round.