Richard Gasquet battles past Fernando Verdasco at Paris Masters

Richard Gasquet has made it through to round three of the Paris Masters thanks to a three-set win over Fernando Verdasco.

The French ninth seed squandered three break points in the opening set before converting the fourth to take it 7-5.

Spain's Verdasco moved into a 5-3 lead in the second as he looked on course to level the match, but Gasquet fought back to force the tie-break.

However, Verdasco resisted another resurgence from his opponent to clinch the tie-break 8-6.

Gasquet looked in control during the decider but struggled to capitalise on any of the five break points that he brought up.

Despite those missed opportunities, he broke to go 4-3 ahead before closing out the match 6-3.

Gasquet will now face either Kei Nishikori or fellow countryman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga for a place in the quarter-finals.