Defending champion Monfils eases through in Rotterdam

France’s Gael Monfils started his Rotterdam Open title defence with a convincing 6-3 6-2 victory over Portugal’s Joao Sousa yesterday to move into the last 16.

Having won the Open Sud de France in Montpellier last week, Monfils needed only 70 minutes to dispatch his Portuguese opponent, firing five aces and converting four break points.

The 33-year-old Frenchman, who is looking to become the first player to win back-to-back Rotterdam titles since Sweden’s Robin Soderling in 2011, next faces compatriot Gilles Simon who beat Mikhail Kukushkin 7-6(3) 3-6 6-3.

“It’s never easy to come back after a win,” Monfils said. “But I have great memories from last year.”