The 25-year-old, the first player from Canada to reach a Grand Slam final when he progressed to the Wimbledon showpiece earlier this year, battled through a tough opening set before wrapping up a 7-6, 6-4 victory.

Raonic, seeded fourth, is competing at the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Masters 1000 event safe in the knowledge that his qualification for the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals tournament in London is already secure.

Tomáš Berdych of the Czech Republic survived a scare in his second round contest as he needed three sets to get past João Sousa of Portugal.

Berdych, yet to win a Grand Slam but reached the final of Wimbledon in 2010, arrived in the French capital desperate to seal his place at the ATP Finals and got his pursuit of the Paris Masters title off to a winning start by overcoming the Portuguese 6-3, 3-6, 7-5.

The Czech will guarantee his spot in London if he lifts the trophy in the French capital, a candidate city for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

In the pick of the first round matches, big-serving American John Isner proved too strong for Germany's Mischa Zverev, progressing thanks to a 7-6, 6-4 victory.

Isner's next opponent is scheduled to be 15th seed David Ferrer of Spain, given a bye into the second round.

Elsewhere, Ferrer's compatriot Fernando Verdasco set up a meeting with Britain's Andy Murray, who is chasing the number one ranking, as he beat French qualifier Pierre-Hugues Hubert 7-6, 6-4.

Double Olympic gold medallist and Wimbledon champion Murray could overtake Novak Djokovic as world number one if he wins the title in Paris and the Serbian does not reach the final.

Djokovic is set to get his campaign up and running when he faces either Spain's Nicolas Almagro or Gilles Muller of Luxembourg, who are in action this evening.

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