Bernard Tomic wins first match since January at Challenger event
Bernard Tomic is savouring his first win since January after advancing to the second round of a low-level Challenger event in France.
Australian tennis's fallen star fought hard to overcome French wildcard Geoffrey Blancaneaux 6-4 2-6 7-5 at the Open du Pays d'Aix in Provence.
Showing great not usually associated with a player who has openly confessed to not giving one hundred per cent in many matches throughout his career, Tomic battled back from 5-2 down in the deciding set against the accomplished claycourter and 2016 French Open junior champion.
The victory was Tomic's first since reaching the final round of Australian Open qualifying - and his first since returning to the sport after an ill-fated stint on the reality TV show I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here.
The one-time world No.17 and former Wimbledon quarter-finalist has plummeted to 243rd in the world as he fights to save his career.
Tomic, who earned 2,180 euros ($A3,475) for his breakthrough win, could conceivably face fellow Queenslander John Millman in the final of the claycourt event.
Top-seeded Millman beat countryman and reigning Roland Garros junior champion Alexei Popyrin 6-2 5-7 6-2 in his first-round match.
Tomic faces another local wildcard in Johan Tatlot next up, while Millman plays either American Stefan Kozloz or Frenchman Constant Lestienne.
