The fourth-seeded Blake is among 20 players seeking to clinch one of the last three spots at the season-ending Masters Cup next month. The American reached the final last year but lost to top-ranked Roger Federer.

Blake will next face Ivo Karlovic of Croatia.

"That's what I am worried about right now, not the semis or the final," Blake said.

Blake, a wild card in Basel, has to overtake two players to qualify for Shanghai. The Paris Masters next week is the final tournament of the year before the Masters Cup.

"I notice it but I don't worry about it," Blake said. "I can't be worried about the other guys, I am just trying to do well at the end of the year."

If Blake makes the semifinals in Basel, he would pull into a tie for eighth place, the last spot in Shanghai.

Hernandez saved one match point on his serve with Blake leading 5-3 in the second set. But Blake went up 40-0 in the next game and closed out the match with a service winner.

Two other players competing for spots at the Masters Cup also advanced. Fifth-seeded Tomas Berdych beat Feliciano Lopez 7-6 (4), 3-6, 6-3, and Guillermo Canas defeated Jose Acasuso 6-4, 6-3.

Also, qualifier Andrey Golubev upset Amer Delic 6-4, 6-3, and Juan Martin Del Potro advanced when Michael Russell retired while trailing 5-2.

Del Potro next faces Federer.