Haas, Rusedski, Blake Lead Unseeded Winners at ATP Paris

Also into the second round were Brit Greg Rusedski (d. (Q) Seppi), Spaniard Feliciano Lopez (d. Malisse from a set down), Belgian qualifier Kristof Vliegen (d. countryman C.Rochus from a set down), Czech Tomas Berdych (d. countryman Novak), Serb qualifier Novak Djokovic (d. Hanescu who retired with a stomach illness), France's Paul-Henri Mathieu (d. Sanguinetti from a set down), Russian qualifier Dmitry Tursunov (d. Spadea), Swiss lucky loser Stan Wawrinka (d. (WC) Serra), and American James Blake (d. O.Rochus).

"I think I deserved the win," Mathieu said after his comeback victory over the Italian Sanguinetti. "It's more difficult than winning easily 6-2, 6-2. Here I really did with what I had. I didn't have much. I think I have to be given credit for winning that match."

Blake upped his record over Ollie Rochus to 2-1 this year after dropping their first meeting in a Davis Cup loss.

"My serve was the biggest difference today," Blake said. "It's good to be playing so well at this time of the year...The US Open was really the turning point. Now I know I can do it and, on any given day, can beat any player in the world."

Rusedski will next face Davydenko, and a win will ensure him of a 2005 finish as the British No. 1 over rival Tim Henman.

"There will be a lot at stake for me because if I win I will go to British No. 1 for the end of the season," Rusedski said. "I'd love to finish this season as strong as I possibly could. It's been a long road for me, especially since 1999 and it does matter a lot. This is a big thing because I want to prove my rank and finishing British number one would mean a lot."

On tap for Tuesday in Paris are (2) Guillermo "El Mago" Coria vs. Berdych, "Grinning" Greg Rusedski vs. (3) Davydenko, (WC) Clement vs. Kiefer, Grosjean vs. Taylor "Acci-" Dent, Nieminen vs. (WC) Fabrice "The Magician" Santoro, Blake vs. (6) Ljubicic, (Q) N.Lapentti vs. Fernando "Hot Sauce" Verdasco, (Q) Mahut vs. (LL) Lisnard in an all-France, (4) Puerta vs. (Q) Djokovic, Massu vs. Max "The Beast" Mirnyi, (15) Mario "Baby Goran" Ancic vs. (Q) Tursunov, and (8) Stepanek vs. Feliciano "F-Lo" Lopez.