Winning return for Richard Gasquet after back injury

London: Fifth seed Richard Gasquet made a winning return after nearly six weeks out with a back injury as the Frenchman beat Marinko Matosevic of Australian 7-6 (9/7), 6-1 on Tuesday to open his account at the Estoril Open.

Gasquet, the former ATP number seven currently ranked 28th, took less than 90 minutes to dispatch the 82nd-ranked Matosevic in the opening round.

Gasquet was one of two French winners as qualifier Kenny De Schepper put out Portugal`s Gastao Elias 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 to move into a second-round meeting with Gasquet.

Spain`s Pablo Carreno Busta advanced over Constant Lestienne of France 6-3, 6-1.

Gasquet has played a pair of finals in Portugal, losing to Novak Djokovic in 2007 and Juan Martin del Potro in 2012.

Gasquet last took to a court on cement in Indian Wells on March 15, retiring with a herniated disc in his back against German Michael Berrer in the second round.

The 28-year-old improved to 11-4 on the season after his winning debut on clay.

Gasquet finished with nine aces and three breaks of serve. He won the opening set in a tiebreaker and broke early to dominate the second set on the way to victory.

Matosevic saved match points and forced the seed to salvage a break point in the final game before Gasquet claimed the win.

Nick Kyrgios, the seventh seed who turned 20 on Monday, was awaiting his clay season start after a spring ankle injury, with the Australian starting against Spanish specialist Albert Ramos-Vinolas.