A month and a half after his last tournament, Gaël Monfils was back on the ATP Tour on Monday for the tournament in Houston.

The Frenchman, having failed the 103rd place in the standings, faced for his recovery the American James Blake. A recovery capped by a victory in 2 hanging sets 7/6, 7/5 1:46 of game on Center Court at the River Oaks Country Club.

The former World No. 7 was successful to his first test on his favorite surface (clay) since his collaboration with Eric Winogradsky.

In the second round, the Guadeloupe invited to the Masters 1000 of Monte-Carlo, will face the 12th player in the world, Nicolas Almagro.