This week’s ATP Tour tennis action at Metz, France and St Petersburg, Russia is well underway and the first-round matches and start of the second-round matches will take place today. At Metz there were a few first-round upsets as sixth seed and Winston Salem winner Hurcacz from Poland and eighth seed Struff from Germany both crashed out at the first-round stage against young French stars Wild Card Berrere and Herbert respectively. It was a good day for French players all round yesterday as veterans Gasquet and Tsonga won their respective openers as did Wild Card NextGen star Hoang.

Over in Russia at St Petersburg there were no major first-round upsets and all seeded players in action fifth seed Rublev, sixth seed Kukushkin and seventh seed Mannarino all progressed to the second round without any drama. The top four seeds at St Petersburg Medevedev, Khachanov, Berettinni and Coric don’t join the action until tomorrow and three of the top four seeds at Metz Goffin, Basilashvili and Pouille will do the same, but fourth seed Paire is in action today against unseeded compatriot Gasquet.

There ARE tennis tips today.