Monfils secures France's first victory at the new ATP Cup

Gael Monfils secured France's first victory at ATP Cup, rallying from a break down in second set and saving three breakpoints as he served for match in a 6-3, 7-5 win over Cristian Garin.

Beite Paire opened Group A encounter against Chile with a 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-3 win over Nicolas Jarry and Monfils clinched best-of-three match encounter ahe of doubles on Saturday in Brisbane.

vak Djokovic's Serbia team takes on Kevin Anderson's South Africans in night match at Brisbane's Pat Rafter Arena.

new 24-team men's tournament started Friday in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth and will conclude with a final in Sydney on Jan. 12, leaving players time to fine-tune for Australian Open in Melbourne.

33-year-old Monfils h a mir injury in off-season and was content with his form against Garin, despite a lapse in second set.

He h to save three breakpoints while serving for match at 6-5, and n converted his first match point when Chilean sent a forehand volley out.

Monfils and Paire hugged and high-fived in team zone beside court to celebrate. Monfils said he was motivated because he didn't want to let down Gilles Simon, who is minated as a player-captain for France.

“It was great today. I think (Garin) h a good period in second set, like, actually a strong period. It shook me a little bit but I think slowly I got back in shape," Monfils said. “I'm happy to be well, but my goal is to have my peak for Aussie Open, so I'm still working quite hard on it, even when we play matches.”

35-year-old Simon, who finished last year ranked . 55, isn't sure if he's rey yet for coaching, so being closer to action at courtside during ATP Cup was better than being in stands.

“It's first time. Maybe last time, also, so, I never kw,” Simon said. “But I just, I just like team. It's very nice atmosphere all toger since we are here and y have like strong personalities and very different personalities also. But it's, yeah, it's a nice experience.”

Argentina was playing Poland in Sydney in first of Group E matches on day two, and Japan was playing Uruguay in Group B in Perth.