World number three Novak Djokovic [ Images ] celebrated his return to action with a 7-6, 6-4 victory over France's [ Images ] Jeremy Chardy in the first round of the Marseille [ Images ] Open on Wednesday.

Djokovic was playing his first match since retiring against American Andy Roddick [ Images ] during their Australian Open [ Images ] quarter-final last month.

"I took some rest after the Australian Open", Djokovic told reporters.

"It was hard to get some rhythm today because I played against a big server and we were both serving well with a high percentage of first serves. It was just a matter of a couple of points that decided the winner," he added.

The top seed served 13 aces and only had to defend one break point against the 22-year-old Chardy, who reached the final of the South African Open earlier this month.

Djokovic next faces Czech Jan Hernych.

Third seed Gael Monfils made an early exit with a 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 loss to fellow Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu in the first round.

"It was a rotten game, I didn't play," said Monfils.

Mathieu who will play another compatriot, Michael Llodra, in the second round, said: "I played better from the baseline, it was just a matter of letting his serve fade away."

Local favourite Jo-Wilfried Tsonga remained on course for a semi-final meeting with Djokovic, defeating Kazakh Andrey Golubev 7-6 ,6-2.

"Last year, I lost in the first round to Mario Ancic. This time I'm still alive but I think Golubev lost all by himself because he served for the fiqrst set at 6-5 and failed to win important points," fourth seed Tsonga said.

Mikhail Youzhny and Feliciano Lopez [ Images ] were the first two players to reach the quarter-finals. Russian Youzhny beat Andreas Seppi of Italy [ Images ] 7-6, 6-3 and Spaniard Lopez defeated Dmitry Tursunov [ Images ] 7-6, 7-6.