Second seed Nikolay Davydenko of Russia cruised to a 6-3, 6-3 first-round win over Czech qualifier Jan Hernych at the World Indoor Tournament on Tuesday.
Spaniard David Ferrer, seeded three, also advanced with a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Italy's Simone Bolelli but eighth-seeded Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis was beaten 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 by Swede Robin Soderling.
"I wasn't feeling well today and needed more time to get adapted to the surface which is much slower than Marseille last week," world number 21 Baghdatis told reporters.
"I really wanted to win because I am sure I would have felt better further on in the tournament."
Dutchman Raemon Sluiter, who said he would retire when his involvement in this tournament ended, bowed out as he lost 6-1, 7-6 to Michael Llodra of France.
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