Defending champion Richard Gasquet got off to a winning start at Montpellier, France in his first match of 2016.

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The top seed and current World No. 10 returned to the Open Sud De France tournament for what is Gasquet’s first event of the new season.  Gasquet was forced to miss last month’s Australian Open with a back injury.

Gasquet faced in the second round Ernests Gulbis of Latvia. Gulbis hit nine aces compared to just three for the Frenchman. But the Latvian dropped his serve down break point in each set while failing to create a break point of his own.

With that, Gasquet went on to win the match 6-4. 6-4.

Gasquet is a two-time event winner and will next face Marcos Baghdatis. The French veteran finished 2015 ranked No. 9 in the world and reached his second Wimbledon semifinal.