Paris - Russian Nikolay Davydenko moved into position for a place at the season-ending ATP final when he won his opening match at the Paris Masters 6-2, 6-1 over German Benjamin Becker Tuesday. Davydenko, the number seven, is next in the queue for one of the last two spots remaining in the eight-man World Tour Finals in London from November 22.
The winner of last month's Shanghai title needed just 78 minutes to advance over Becker, the third German to lose in two days at the Bercy arena.
Davydenko is trying to stay ahead of Spaniard Fernando Verdasco, with Swede Robin Soderling a distant ninth in the chase.
"I remember it's been like this before for me," said the Russian after his second-round win following a first-round bye. "But I always managed to get in.
"There are three guys who need to win the tournament, getting to the final is not enough.
"This match ws good for me, I had a good feeling.
"Everyone is here - (Roger) Federer, (Novak) Djokovic - it's a very tough draw. It won't be easy for (Jo-Wilfried) Tsonga or Soderling or Verdasco to make it into the final and win the tournament."
Sixth seed Davydenko, 29, lifted the Paris title in 2006 and could put a serious dent in Soderling's plans if the Swede beats Croatia's Ivo Karlovic to face Davydenko in the third round.
The world Top 10 except injured Andy Roddick are playing in Paris, the last event of the ATP regular season.
