Qualifier De Schepper upsets Paire at Croatia Open

Kenny-De-Schepper-of-France-returns-a-shot-during-the-men's-singles-match-against-Richard-Gasquet.-(Alastair-Grant/AP)

Kenny De Schepper of France returns a shot during the men's singles match against Richard Gasquet. (Alastair Grant/AP)

UMAG, Croatia — Qualifier Kenny De Schepper upset another Frenchman, seventh-seeded Benoit Paire, to advance to the second round of the Croatia Open on Tuesday with a 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 win.

Paire struggled with his serve, producing a total of 11 double faults, and was broken eight times by his 148th-ranked opponent.

Eighth-seeded Jiri Vesely of the Czech Republic made the second round after a 6-4, 6-0 victory over Norbert Gombos of Slovakia.

In other first-round matches, last year’s finalist Andrej Martin of Slovakia beat Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan 6-3, 6-2, Brazilian Rogerio Dutra Silva eased past Marco Trungelliti of Argentina 6-1, 6-2, and Alessandro Giannessi of Italy overcame Australian Marc Polmans 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-4.

Romania’s Radu Albot and Attila Balazs of Hungary also advanced.

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