Tennis: Frenchman Simon suffers early exit in Monte Carlo

MONTE CARLO - Last year's semifinalist Gilles Simon suffered a shock 6-3 7-6 loss to Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut in the Monte Carlo Masters first round on Monday. Roared on by the crowd, the 11th-seeded Frenchman saved five match points in the tiebreak before handing his opponent victory with a netted backhand. Simon has struggled on clay this year, also losing the decisive match when France lost to Argentina in the Davis Cup quarterfinals last weekend. Bautista Agut, 59th in the world rankings, secured his first win in a Masters series tournament. - Reuters