Jeremy Chardy beat Bjorn Phau of Germany 6-2, 7-5 in the first round of the Grand Prix Hassan II on Monday.
The sixth-seeded Frenchman broke Phau twice in the opening set and again decisively in the 11th game of the second set.
It was Chardy's first victory at an ATP tournament this year, with his only other two singles wins in 2011 were for France against Austria in the Davis Cup last month. His sole career title was on clay two years ago at Stuttgart, Germany.
Chardy next faces Pablo Andujar of Spain, who defeated Florent Serra 6-1, 3-6, 6-2 after breaking the Frenchman five times.
Also, eighth-seeded Victor Hanescu of Romania rallied to beat Spaniard Daniel Gimeno-Traver 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.
Hanescu, a French Open quarterfinalist in 2005, conceded six double faults in dropping serve four times but saved 13 break points.
Pere Riba downed Jesse Huta Galung of the Netherlands 6-3, 6-3. The Spaniard, whose only other Tour win this year was in the Australian Open first round, will play fourth-seeded Andrey Golubev of Kazhakstan.
