Marat Safin moved closer to a potential third-round showdown with two-time defending champion Rafael Nadal with a come-from-behind victory over Finland's Jarkko Nieminen on Day 1 of Masters Series Monte-Carlo Sunday.

Safin rallied from a set down to oust the 15th seed 5-7, 6-3, 6-2, saving seven of 10 break points he faced in the match. The Russian next plays the winner of Kristof Vliegen and Paul-Henri Mathieu. Safin is chasing his first title since the 2005 Australian Open. He improved to a 10-7 career record in Monte-Carlo, where in 2004 he reached the semifinals.

Arnaud Clement won the battle of the Frenchmen with a 6-4, 7-6(5) win over Florent Serra. Clement trailed 1-4 in the tie-break but rallied to survive the first round in Monte-Carlo for the first time in three years and just the third time in nine career appearances.

Earlier, Frenchman Julien Benneteau also needed three sets to defeat Monaco's Benjamin Balleret 7-5, 5-7, 6-2. Korea's Kyung-Taik Lee saw off an early challenge from Jonas Bjorkman to defeat the Swede 7-6(6), 6-1, claiming four service breaks.