Top-seeded Marat Safin of Russia advanced to the second round of the $US1 million ($A1.34 million) St Petersburg Open after Alexander Peya of Austria retired in the second set because of an injured ankle.

Earlier, Cyril Saulnier of France overcame a one-set deficit to upset third-seeded Mardy Fish of the United States 6-7 (6), 6-4, 6-3.

Safin and Peya both held their serves in the first set to force a tiebreaker. Peya then saved three set points before Safin converted the fourth with a backhand volley.

In the fourth game of the second set, Peya was down 2-1 and 15-love on his serve when he appeared to sprain his right ankle while trying to return a passing backhand. The Austrian called for a trainer, who taped his ankle, and play resumed. Safin broke Peya to go up 4-1 and Peya retired.

A hard-serving Fish saved three break points in the opening set and prevailed in a tiebreaker, but Saulnier made a decisive break in the 10th game of the second set to level the match 1-1. Fish served 25 aces in the match to Saulnier's 14.

In the second round, Safin will face last year's runner-up Sargis Sargsian of Armenia, who came back from a set down to beat Irakli Labadze of Georgia 4-6, 6-1, 6-2.

Also, Greg Rusedski of Britain advanced to the quarterfinals by downing Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic 7-6 (1), 4-6, 6-4, while Julien Benneteau of France ousted Gilles Muller of Luxembourg 6-4, 7-5.

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