Qualifying for the 40th Rolex Paris Masters got underway on Saturday, with seven places in the main draw at stake. Three players have already booked their place in the final qualifying round.

Tirante comes back from a set down

Third seed Thiago Agustin Tirante had to fight to open his campaign. The Argentine dropped the first set against American Zachary Svajda before turning the match around to win 3-6 6-1 6-4.

Bellucci too strong for Carreno Busta

Thirteenth seed Mattia Bellucci needed 1 hour and 37 minutes to see off Pablo Carreno Busta. The Italian dominated the opening set 6-1, then held his nerve in a tight second set, which he took 7-6(3).

Tirante and Bellucci were drawn in the same section, which means only one of them will reach the main draw. They meet in the final qualifying round.

Hijikata ends Faria’s run early

The first seed to fall in Paris qualifying was Jaime Faria. Australia’s Rinky Hijikata beat the seventh seed from Portugal 6-3 6-4 in just 65 minutes. He will face either French wildcard Hugo Gaston or eleventh seed Vit Kopriva, playing on the Center Court, for a place in the main draw.

By reaching the final qualifying round, all three are guaranteed €12,920 and 16 ATP ranking points. The seven qualifiers will earn 30 points and join the main draw, which starts on Monday, November 2.

Rolex Paris Masters, qualifying round 1 (in draw order)

1. (1) Sebastian Baez (ARG) vs Damir Dzumhur (BIH, Alt)
2. Tomas Machac (CZE) vs (14) Martin Landaluce (ESP)
3. (2) Tallon Griekspoor (NED) vs Benjamin Bonzi (FRA, WC)
4. Felix Balshaw (FRA, WC) vs (9) Yannick Hanfmann (GER)
5. (3) Thiago Agustin Tirante (ARG) d. Zachary Svajda (USA) 3-6 6-1 6-4
6. (13) Mattia Bellucci (ITA) d. Pablo Carreno Busta (ESP) 6-1 7-6(3)
7. (4) Nuno Borges (POR) vs Adrian Mannarino (FRA)
8. Alex Molcan (SVK) vs (10) Daniel Altmaier (GER)
9. (5) Juan Manuel Cerundolo (ARG) vs Aleksandar Kovacevic (USA)
10. James Duckworth (AUS) vs (8) Miomir Kecmanovic (SRB)
11. (6) Adolfo Daniel Vallejo (PAR) vs Grigor Dimitrov (BUL, WC)
12. Lorenzo Sonego (ITA) vs (12) Jaume Munar (ESP)
13. Rinky Hijikata (AUS) d. (7) Jaime Faria (POR) 6-3 6-4
14. Hugo Gaston (FRA, WC) vs (11) Vit Kopriva (CZE)