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Berdych through but misses Masters

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PARIS, France -- Czech Tomas Berdych started the defense of his Paris Masters title with a 6-7 6-4 6-2 victory over Belgian Olivier Rochus on Wednesday but still dropped out of the race to the Masters Cup.

Berdych, who surprised the favorites to win the indoor event in 2005 and is seeded eighth this year, stepped up a gear to set up a third-round meeting with American Robby Ginepri.

But Berdych was eliminated from securing a place in the season-ending tournament in Shanghai after American seventh seed James Blake moved past Frenchman Arnaud Clement 6-4 3-6 6-4.

The top eight players in the ATP Race will travel to China for the event starting on November 12.

Five players have already booked their places with six contenders, five of whom are in action in Paris this week, fighting for the three remaining spots.

The hard-hitting Berdych dropped the first set by losing a tie break 7-4, netting a forehand on set point.

After opening a 5-1 lead in the second set, he showed signs of nerves again, allowing Rochus to win the next three games.

Relying on his devastating forehand and booming serves, Berdych, who downed a total 21 aces, managed to rally and win the second set and took control in the third.

He won four games in a row before sealing victory with an ace on his first match point.

"It was a very tough start and I'm happy I've made it," said Berdych. "I like it here but I'm not putting any extra pressure on myself just because I won last year."

Finn Jarkko Nieminen, seeded 14th, also survived the second round, with a straightforward 6-3 6-4 victory over Italian qualifier Daniele Bracciali.

In the day's most exciting contest, local favorite Paul-Henri Mathieu thrilled the home fans by surviving two tiebreaks to knock out Serbian 12th seed Novak Djokovic with a 7-6 7-6 win.

Mathieu received help from the "hawkeye" instant replay system on a set point against him in the first set, successfully challenging a call after his serve was initially ruled out.

"On a fast surface like the one we have here, the "hawkeye" is definitely a good thing," said Mathieu, who eventually won that first set tiebreak 13-11.

A string of high profile withdrawals have left the tournament without five of the world's top six players.

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