Berdych needs three sets to win in Germany

HALLE, Germany, June 7 (UPI) -- Second-seeded Tomas Berdych was pushed to a third set Tuesday before escaping with a first-round win at the Gerry Weber Open in Germany.

Berdych battled qualifier Ruben Bemelmans for 2 hours 16 minutes before claiming a 5-7, 7-6 (10-8), 6-4 victory. Berdych managed to finish off only one of nine break-point chances but that was the difference in the third set. He didn't face a break point after the first set.

No. 3-seed Gael Monfils capped Tuesday's play with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Florent Serra in a brisk 57 minutes. Monfils pounded out 14 aces and lost only 10 points in nine service games. Serra didn't manage a break-point chance.

Fifth-seeded Viktor Troicki was a 6-2, 6-3 winner over Mischa Zverev in an even quicker 52 minutes while No. 6-seeded Florian Mayer slipped by Dustin Brown 7-6 (8-6), 2-6, 6-3 and eighth-seeded Milos Raonic topped Pablo Andujar 6-3, 6-1.

Also Tuesday, Andreas Seppi beat Tommy Haas 6-2, 6-7 (6-8), 6-3; Daniel Gimeno-Traver slipped past Andrey Golubev 1-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-2; and Philipp Petzschner knocked off Dominik Meffert 6-2, 7-6 (7-5). Meffert had taken the place of fourth-seeded Mikhail Youzhny, who withdrew because of a foot injury, in the draw.