Montpellier - Former champion Tomas Berdych made a winning return to the Open Sud de France on Tuesday with a 5-7, 6-3, 6-3 victory over German qualifier Matthias Bachinger.

Berdych, who won the hardcourt title in 2012, saved seven of the 11 break points he faced to win in 2 hours, 12 minutes.

The Czech player will next face eighth-seeded Benoit Paire, who defeated Evgeny Donskoy of Russia 7-5, 6-3. Berdych has won all three previous meetings against the French player.

Also Tuesday, sixth-seeded Jeremy Chardy defeated Adrian Menendez-Maceiras 6-1, 6-1, while Ernests Gulbis, Antoine Hoang and Filip Krajinovic also advanced.

American Denis Kudla lost 6-2, 6-1 to seventh-seeded Pierre-Hugues Herbert.

Results from the ATP tournament in Montpellier on Tuesday (x denotes seeding):

First round

Ernests Gulbis (LAT) bt Hubert Hurkacz (POL) 6-4, 7-6 (7/5)

Antoine Hoang (FRA) bt Steve Darcis (BEL) 6-1, 6-2

Pierre-Hugues Herbert (FRA x7) bt Denis Kudla (USA) 6-2, 6-1

Benoit Paire (FRA x8) bt Evgeny Donskoy (RUS) 7-5, 6-3

Tomas Berdych (CZE) bt Matthias Bachinger (GER) 5-7, 6-3, 6-3

Filip Krajinovic (SRB) bt Nicolas Mahut (FRA) 7-6 (9/7), 6-4