Paris Masters: Baghdatis, Verdasco, Paolo Lorenzi through to 2nd round

Marcos Baghdatis, Fernando Verdasco and Paolo Lorenzi have progressed into the second round of the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event.

Baghdatis posted a straight-sets win over local favorite Paul-Henri Mathieu to go through to the second round. The 31-year-old Cypriot, needed 95 minutes to beat Mathieu 6-2, 6-4.

He will next face Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov. Baghdatis has only won once in seven attempts against Dimitrov.

Elsewhere, Spain's Fernando Verdasco booked his place in the second round after Robin Haase of the Netherlands retired due to a Leg Injury. The Spaniard only needed 28 minutes to take the 1st set 6-2.

But Haase couldn’t continue after 5 games into the 2nd set and was forced to retire. Verdasco will next take on Britain’s Andy Murray, a player he has beaten only once in 12 meetings.

Meanwhile, Italy's Paolo Lorenzi also made a winning start in Paris as he defeated Benoit Paire of France 6-4, 7-6.

Lorenzi, who completed the win in one hour and 27 minutes, will next face Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay.

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