Tomic wins first match since January

Bernard Tomic has won his first match since Australian Open qualifying to progress to the second round of a claycourt event in France.

Bernard Tomic. Source: AAP

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.

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 French Open 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.