Tomas Berdych advances to third round of Monte Carlo Masters

Tomas Berdych has reached the third round of the Monte Carlo Masters thanks to a tough straight-sets win over Sergiy Stakhovsky.

Both players exchanged breaks during a nip-and-tuck opening set, but it was the sixth seed who broke again to close it out 6-4.

Berdych saved three break points at the start of the second as Stakhovsky threatened to take the initiative. There was little to separate them after that as they each held serve to force a tie-break.

However, former Wimbledon finalist Berdych raced into a 5-1 lead in the breaker before sealing his progress 6-4 7-6(2).