MONTREAL, Canada (REUTERS) - American Sam Querrey overcame a sluggish start to defeat Frenchman Vincent Millot 4-6, 7-6(4), 7-5 in their first round match at the Rogers Cup in Montreal on Tuesday (Aug 8).

The three-set battle was the second meeting between the two players in a week after Querrey defeated Millot in straight sets at the Los Cabos Open on Thursday, a tournament Querrey ultimately won.

The 29-year-old Querrey staved off the upset bid by the 31-year-old Millot despite moving sluggishly around the court and his trusty first serve not being its usual lethal weapon.

Querrey's frustration boiled over early in the third set of ATP 1000 event when he broke his racquet after having his service broken.

He went on to win the next four games after the outburst.

Querrey goes on to face another Frenchman, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the 2014 Rogers Cup champion in the round of 32.

BERDYCH OUT

Earlier in the day Czech Tomas Berdych, the Number 10 seed at the Rogers Cup, withdrew from the tournament prior to his first round match against Nikoloz Basilashvili citing a rib injury.

"I am sorry I have to apologize all my Montreal fans. I couldn't play, because of my rib disfunction I need to get well to go to office soon," Berdych said on Twitter.

His withdrawal led to a quick call to the lucky loser American Ernesto Escobedo, who had just five minutes to prepare for the match, which he won in an upset 7-6(4), 6-4.

Elsewhere Croatian Borna Coric defeated Russian Mikhail Youzhny 6-2, 6-4 and Spaniard Feliciano López defeated South Korean Chung Hyeon 6-1, 4-6, 7-6(3).