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By Chris Oddo | Wednesday August 17, 2016

Rafael Nadal got his Western and Southern Open started on the right foot with a 6-1, 7-6(4) victory over Uruguay’s Pablo Cuevas on Wednesday in Cincinnati.

More: Halep Opens with a Win in Cincinnati

The world No. 5 improved to 34-10 on the season and 13-6 on hardcourts by saving all five break points he faced. Cuevas held break points in three of Nadal’s service games in the second set and even had a set point with the Spaniard serving at 4-5, but Nadal came through all test with flying colors to improve to 3-1 lifetime over Uruguay’s top player.

“I think I played a good match against a tough opponent in the first round for sure for me,” Nadal said. “After coming from Rio and after the marathon that I had in Rio, it's very important victory for me, no? So very happy.”

Nadal advances to face Borna Coric in the round of 16 on Thursday.

Coric saved a match point to eliminate Nick Kyrgios, 7-6(2), 4-6, 7-6(6).

Coric notched what he calls the biggest win of his career against Nadal as a 17-year-old in Basel, while Nadal defeated Coric in four sets at last year’s U.S. Open.

Other winners on a busy day in Cincinnati:

Grigor Dimitrov outlasted Feliciano Lopez, 5-7, 6-3, 7-6(6).

[4] Milos Raonic ousted American John Isner, 7-6(5), 7-6(5).

[8] Dominic Thiem trounced Aussie John Millman, 7-5, 6-1.

[9] Gael Monfils defeated Marcos Baghdatis, 7-5, 6-0.

[5] Kei Nishikori defeated Mikhail Youzhny, 6-3, 6-2.

Bernard Tomic upset [11] David Goffin, 3-6, 7-5, 6-4.


 

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