NEWPORT, R.I. — Two-time defending champion Fabrice Santoro of France won his rain-delayed, opening-round match, beating Italy's Flavio Cipolla, 6-3, 7-5, at the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships on Thursday.

Santoro, 36, the oldest singles player on the ATP tour, had his match postponed by heavy rain Tuesday and halted in the first set Wednesday.

The second-seeded Santoro will face 2002 Newport champ Taylor Dent in the second round Friday.