Berankis knocks off Istomin in Nice opener

May 19, 2013 - 5:33 PM Nice, France (Sports Network) - Ricardas Berankis was a first-round winner Sunday at the $530,000 Nice Open, a final clay-court French Open tune-up.

Berankis topped Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin, the No. 8 seed, 6-2, 6-2 at the Nice Lawn Tennis Club.

The Lithuanian will play Edouard Roger-Vasselin in the second round. The French wild card advanced when Colombian Alejandro Falla retired with a left calf injury after dropping the first set 7-5.

Spaniard Nicolas Almagro captured a second straight Nice title by beating American Brian Baker in last year's finale.