Safin wins opening match in his last event

PARIS, Nov. 9 (UPI) -- Russian Marat Safin, playing in his last event on the world tour, was a first-round winner Monday in the Paribas Masters in Paris.

The 29-year-old Safin eliminated Frenchman Thierry Ascione 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7-3).

Safin plans to retire from the ATP Tour after the indoor tournament, which he won in 2000, 2002 and 2004.

U.S. Open champion Juan Martin del Potro will be Safin's opponent in the second round.

Croatia's Ivan Ljubicic topped Sebastien Grosjean of France 7-6 (7-2), 6-4; American John Isner outlasted Alejandro Falla of Columbia 4-6, 7-6 (12-10); Ivo Karlovic of Croatia defeated Uruguay's Pablo Cuevas 7-6 (7-3), 6-4; and Czech Tomas Berdych downed Frenchman Vincent Millot 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) in other matches.

Serbian Viktor Troicki moved on after his opponent, France's Paul-Henri Mathieu, withdrew with a leg injury.

Also advancing were Spaniard Albert Montanes, Italian Andreas Seppi and Lukasz Kubot, a qualifier from Poland.

Switzerland's Roger Federer is the tournament's top-seed.