Kafelnikov reaches second round in Lyon Grand Prix

Lyon, France:

Second-seeded Yevgeny Kafelnikov defeated Fernando Meligeni of Brazil 6-3, 6-4 in the first round of the Lyon Grand Prix on Wednesday, setting up a clash with possible Davis Cup foe Nicolas Escude of France. Kafelnikov will likely feature in the Russian team that is to play in next month's Davis Cup final in Paris. Escude, who sealed the title for France last year, could be included in the French squad. He won his first-round match at Lyon on Tuesday. Kafelnikov took the title here in 1996, the year he won the French Open. Seventh-seeded Max Mirnyi of Belarus also advanced Wednesday, beating Olivier Rochus of Belgium 6-3, 7-5. American Jan-Michael Gambill lost 6-2, 7-6(7) to Jonas Bjorkman of Sweden. France's Paul-Henri Mathieu eliminated fellow countryman Julien Boutter 6-2, 7-5. (AP)