PARIS: Defending champion David Ferrer was pushed to three sets by Czech Lukas Rosol in his opening match at the Paris Masters on Wednesday before easing into the last-16, 6-0, 2-6, 6-3.

Rosol, who is part of his country’s squad to face Serbia in the Davis Cup final on November 15, appeared to be on the receiving end of a rout before fighting back to give Ferrer a scare when he won the second set 6-2.

However, the experience of the 31-year-old Grand Slam finalist proved decisive in the final frame as Ferrer consistently put pressure on the Rosol serve and was rewarded with a third round tie against Frenchman Gilles Simon.

The Nice native, a semifinalist loser last here in Paris against Poland’s Jerzy Janowicz, defeated Nicolas Mahut in a marathon 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 7-6 (7/3) second round matchup.

Simon led 4-1 in the final set before an injury break forced upon Mahut appeared to revive the taller Frenchman.

However when the conclusion went to a tie-break, it was Simon who was strongest and finally closed out the longest match of the tournament for a rewarding victory.

“It was very difficult for both of us and we both had problems,” said a relieved Simon.

“It’s the last tournament of the year and we’re ready to die out there but I’m very, very happy to have won this match.

“I had lots of chances to win, I’m tired, I’m in pain but just very happy to have won,” Simon told a vibrant crowd that pushed the players to their limits.

Earlier on court one, big-serving American John Isner bombarded Polish qualifier Michal Przysiezny with 27 aces on the way to a 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 6-3 second round win.

Tsonga out

French No.1 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga saw his hopes of reaching the season-ending World Tour Finals disappear on Tuesday after being eliminated from the Paris Masters by Japan’s Kei Nishikori.

The former Australian Open finalist wasted two match points before double faulting in the final set tie-break to gift world number 18 Nishikori a place in the last-16.

Despite serving 18 aces, a lethargic Tsonga let the second round match slip from his grasp losing 6-1, 6-7 (4/7), 6-7 (7/9).

Gasquet needed five match points earlier to beat Spaniard Fernando Verdasco 7-5, 6-7 (6/8), 6-3 in the second round and that along with the elimination of Tsonga gave him a double boost in his bid to qualify for the World Tour finals in London.

The right-hander from Beziers forced a crucial break in the deciding set to go 4-3 up and this time he kept his nerve after blowing two match points in the second set.

In the final match of the day, world number two Novak Djokovic was taken to a tie-break in the first set before beating French qualifier Pierre-Hugues Hubert, ranked 189 in the world, 7-6 (7/3), 6-3.

The Serbian six-time Grand Slam winner, who kept alive his hopes of reclaiming the number one spot from Rafael Nadal, now plays either American John Isner or Poland’s Michal Przysiezny for a spot in the last-eight.