David Nalbandian Sets Up John Isner Clash

David Nalbandian dropped just five games as he eased passed Ivan Ljubicic at the at the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters to set up a second round clash with John Isner.

Nalbandian is on a good roll of form after returning from a hamstring injury as he picked up the title in Washington two weeks ago before reaching the quarter finals at the Toronto Masters last week.

The pair traded breaks early in the opening set before Nalbandian struck again in the eleventh game to lead 6-5 and leave him serving from the first set.

Into the second and it was Nalbandian all the way as the challenge from Ljubicic fell away, winning just six points in the second set, as the Argentine served up a bagel set to wrap up an impressive 7-5 6-0 victory.

The Argentine underwent hip surgery in 2009 and many questioned whether we had seen the best of the former world number three. But Nalbandian has bounced back and looks set to be a dangerous floater when the U.S Open draw is made.

He will now face big hitting American John Isner as the American number two enjoyed an equally straight forward passage into the second round as he faced Lukasz Kubot.

Kubot hasn't played since Wimbledon due to injury and his lack of match play was obvious as he struggled with his serve, Isner breaking early to open up a 3-0 lead.

Isner broke a second time to wrap up the opening set 6-2. There was more of the same in the second set as Kubot while Isner was dominant on serve as he fired down eleven aces and never faced a break point.

Just a single break in the second set was enough for the American to wrap up a 6-3 6-2 win in just fifty eight minutes.

Speaking to ATP after the match about facing Nalbandian, Isner said: "He's breaking serve at an unreal rate right now. But I don't think he's faced a serve as big as mine.

"So it's gonna be interesting. I'd like to think I'm one of the best servers in the game; he's obviously one of the best returners in the game. So it's kind of a contrast in styles.

"First and foremost, I got to hold onto my serve. Even if I'm not getting in his service games, as long as I can get a lot of holds on my service games, it'll keep the match close and really make the match hinge on a few points here and there."

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw