(CNN) -- Top-seeded Novak Djokovic marked his return to tournament action with a 7-6 6-4 victory over Frenchman Jeremy Chardy in the first round of the Marseille Open on Wednesday.
Top seed Djokovic was in action for the first time since quitting his quarterfinal at the Australian Open.
Serbian star Djokovic was making his first appearance since quitting with heat exhaustion during last month's Australian Open quarterfinal against Andy Roddick -- and he did not disappoint his fans.
Unseeded Chardy was beaten finalist at the recent Johannesburg ATP event, but succumbed after 86 minutes in a contest that saw Djokovic deliver 11 aces.
"You always have to be happy when you win, especially after a couple of weeks off," the ATP Web site quoted Djokovic who now faces Czech Jan Hernych.
"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."
Fourth-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the Frenchman Djokovic defeated to win the 2008 Australian Open title in Melbourne, ousted Andrey Golubev of Kazakhstan 7-6 6-2.
Tsonga was joined the in the last 16 by compatriot Michael Llodra, a 7-6 6-1 winner against South African Rik De Voest.
Eighth seed Feliciano Lopez of Spain fired down 18 aces as he battled into the quarterfinals with a 7-6 7-6 win against Russian Dmitry Tursunov whose compatriot Mikhail Youzhny won his second round match against Italian Andreas Seppi 7-6 6-3.