Blake opens with win in Paris

PARIS, Nov. 8 (UPI) -- American James Blake began play in the Paribas Masters in Paris Sunday with a first-round victory over soon-to-retire French veteran Fabrice Santoro.

Blake won 6-4, 6-3 and German Benjamin Becker defeated Michael Llodra 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 in the only matches of the day.

All of the seeded players, led by No. 1 Roger Federer, received byes to the second round.

The 37-year-old Santoro, a six-time winner on the ATP Tour, has said he will leave the tour at the end of the year.

Blake will go against No. 4 seed Andy Murray of Scotland in the second round. Becker's foe will be Russian Nikolay Davydenko, the No. 6 seed.