Julien Benneteau's wait for a victory on the ATP Tour in 2016 continues after he was comfortably brushed aside 6-2 6-3 by Ivan Dodig at the Nottingham Open.
Benneteau continues to search for his form this year having missed the last eight months of 2015 after surgery on an abductor injury, but Monday's loss leaves him with no wins in seven matches since his return to the Tour.
The Frenchman was wasteful early on as he allowed two break chances to pass him by, but Dodig was in no mood to be generous as he wrapped up the opening set in 33 minutes. A break in the fourth game of the second was enough to complete his win, and set up a second-round meeting with top seed Kevin Anderson.
Defending champion Denis Istomin will have to return on Tuesday, though, the Uzbek tied at one set all with Damir Dzumhur when fading light stopped play. Mikhail Youzhny had a similar problem on Sunday due to rain, but when he took to the court he promptly brushed aside Teymuraz Gabashvili, the Russian coming from a set down to win 4-6 6-3 6-3.
Home fans were left purring at the form of Kyle Edmund as he quickly dealt with Lukas Rosol, but his compatriots James Ward, Bryden Klein and Alex Ward were all beaten. Malek Jaziri, Stephane Robert and Frank Dancevic eliminated the British trio, with only Robert able to complete his progression in straight sets.
Monday also saw first-round victories for Ernesto Escobedo, Victor Estrella Burgos, Benjamin Becker, Dudi Sela and Jiri Vesely as the seeds get ready to enter the tournament on Tuesday.
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