As the top 10 players jostle for position for the ATP Finals in Turin, Australia's Jordan Thompson has made a strong start to the Paris Masters, beating Pedro Martinez Portero 6-4 6-4.
Thompson, the world No.28, will face seventh seed Casper Ruud in the second round after his victory at the Accor Arena on Monday (Tuesday AEDT).
Thompson, 30, will not be heading to Turin but he is ending the year strongly: he is inside the top 30 for singles and had a US Open doubles triumph alongside fellow Aussie Max Purcell in September.