Paradorn, who turns 27 today and is known locally as "Ball", dismissed Belgium veteran Dick Norman 6-4 7-6 (7-5) to end his dismal season after having crashed out in eight straight first rounds.

Surging to No 35 this week despite his early exit at Roland Garros, Paradorn underlined his supremacy over Norman, whom he beat 4-6 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (7-2) in Tokyo three years ago.

Both players started their match neck-and-neck, holding their serve for eight straight games. But the 35-year-old Belgium lost concentration first to go down 30-40 on his serve before the 16th-seeded Paradorn capitalised on his chance to break and go up for the first time at 5-4.

The Thai, who lost to American Kevin Kim in the first round last year, then went on to win his first set point.

The second set also went with serve until the tie-break where the Thai proved mentally tougher on the crucial stages to win 7-6 (7-5). He blasted down 13 aces to 11 from the Belgium, who served 11 double faults.

Paradorn will play Taiwan's Lu Yen-Hsun, who moved past Luxembourg's Gilles Muller 6-4 7-6 (9-7), in the second round.

He joined countryman Danai Udomchoke, who had already earned a berth in round two by coming back from a first set deficit to beat Czech Thomas Zib 3-6 7-5 6-0 on Monday.

Meanwhile in Birmingham, England, India's Sania Mirza relived the best day of her career so far when she overcame Alona Bondarenko 6-2 3-6 6-3 to reach the second round of the DFS Classic yesterday.

Mirza beat the 21-year-old Ukrainian in the final of her home city tournament in Hyderabad last year to become the first Indian woman to win a WTA Tour title.

This time Mirza again won in three sets, though there were moments, particularly when she slipped to a 1-3 deficit in the final set, when it seemed she was going to fall short.

But she regained focus and counter-attacked boldly for a satisfactory start to her grass-court build-up to Wimbledon.

"I lost a bit of concentration and she came up with some good shots," admitted Mirza. "I am happy just to have won it.

"I have been practising on the grass for the last three days, so I am getting used to it.

"After what happened last season [a great match with Kuznetsova at Wimbledon] I think everyone back home will be looking forward to this season," added the 19-year-old 14th seed.