First round play at the Open Sud de France continued as six matches were contested, the most notable the return of Andy Murray as he played his first match on the ATP Tour since October.
Gerasimov too solid for Murray
The three-time Grand Slam champion took a late wild card into Montpellier and he was competitive for a while before eventually falling to Egor Gerasimov 7-6 (8), 6-1.
After breaks were traded midway through the first set and in the tiebreaker, Murray saved three set points before Gerasimov, saving a set point of his own, converted on his fourth opportunity.
The second set was no contest as the 82nd-ranked Belarusian won the first five games, cruising to the second round as he sealed the victory with his 12th ace on match point.
"I just tried to be focused on the match and not think about mistakes", he said in his on-court interview. "I just wanted to try my best today because I was playing with a great champion. It was a big experience and I am happy."
Novak, Gojowczyk among other winners
The only seed in action was eliminated as eighth seed Jan-Lennard Struff fell to countryman Peter Gojowczyk with the 144th-ranked qualifier broke Struff's serve four times en route to a 6-4, 6-3 victory.
Gojowczyk will next face Jiri Vesely as the Czech lefty blew away Mikael Ymer 6-1, 6-1 in just 50 minutes. Also advancing was Dennis Novak who outlasted Gilles Simon 7-6 (5), 1-6, 6-3 in two and a half hours.
Qualifier Tallon Griekspoor kicked off the day's action with a battling 6-2, 6-7 (5), 6-3 win over Marcos Giron as the Dutchman served up 10 aces in the two hour, eight minute match.
Finally, in an all-French battle, wild card Benjamin Bonzi got the better of Lucas Pouille, playing his first tour match after missing 16 months with an elbow injury, 7-6 (6), 6-2.