Fourth seed Tomas Berdych has moved into the third round of the French Open after beating fellow Czech Radek Stepanek in a tricky four-set encounter.
Berdych opened up a 3-0 lead at the start of the opening set before saving five break points to take it 6-3.
However, the unpredictable Stepanek fought back in the second, which was settled via a tie-break. There was little to separate the compatriots during the breaker, but it was the world number 129 who eventually came through 7-6(7).
A closely-fought third set was deadlocked until Berdych broke at 2-1, and the former Wimbledon finalist was able to hold his nerve after that to close it out 6-3.
An early break for Berdych saw the Czech get off to a positive start in the fourth. From there the world number four remained steady to secure a 6-3 6-7(7) 6-3 6-3 triumph.
Jack Prescott
