Florent Serra saved two match points before beating Albert Montanes of Spain 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (3) in the first round of the Paris Masters on Sunday.
Serra, who entered the main draw thanks to a wild card, fended off the match points with a forehand winner and a winning serve at 4-5, 15-40 in the decider.
The Frenchman next plays fifth-seeded Tomas Berdych of Czech Republic.
''It was not the match of the year, but this is one of my most beautiful victories,'' said Serra.
In Sunday's other first round match, Ernests Gulbis of Latvia advanced when Juan Ignacio Chela of Argentina retired while trailing 7-5, 2-2.
Following top-ranked Rafael Nadal's withdrawal because of a shoulder injury, Roger Federer has been given the No. 1 seed. Federer won the Swiss Indoors on Sunday, beating defending champion Novak Djokovic in the final.
The Swiss player will start his Parisian campaign against the winner of a first-round match between Nicolas Mahut and Richard Gasquet.
The three remaining spots for the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals will be decided at the Palais Omnisports, with Tomas Berdych, David Ferrer, Andy Roddick, Fernando Verdasco, Mikhail Youzhny and Jurgen Melzer still having a chance to qualify for the London event.
