METZ: Former champion Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia barely got past qualifier Sebastien de Chaunac of France 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (1) in the first round of the Open de Moselle.

The eighth-seeded Ljubicic, hit 21 aces to set up a match with Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia, who beat 2003 winner French Arnaud Clement 6-4, 6-4.

Richard Gasquet of France saved two break points at 5-5 in the third set to outlast Michael Berrer of Germany 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (5). The Frenchman is trying to rediscover his form after the International Tennis Federation banned him for two and a half months for testing positive for cocaine at a tournament in Miami in March.

Gasquet said he inadvertently ingested the drug by kissing a woman in a nightclub. Nicknamed in his youth, the Mozart of tennis by the French media because he was the most talented player of his generation, Gasquet reached a career-high No 7 ranking in 2007. He was a finalist here in 2004, but Tuesday’s win was only his second since his return to the tour a month ago.

Gasquet will next face Christophe Rochus of Belgium, who edged

past fifth-seeded Fabrice Santoro of France 0-6,

6-4, 7-6 (3).