Rafael Nadal Through In Straight Sets

Rafael Nadal took care of big serving American Taylor Dent in straight sets yesterday as he got hisCincinnati masters campaign under way.

The Spaniard was in no mood to hang around in the opening set as he broke Dent in his first two service game to open up a 4-0 lead.

The American finally got on the board in the fifth game to prevent the dreaded bagel set bit it was too much too late as Nadal strolled to the opening set 6-2 in just thirty minutes.

Into the second and Dent looked much more comfortable but his first serve, the biggest part of his game, was not firing on al cylinders.

Despite this it was the American who got the first break of the second set as a string of errors from a Rafa service game handed the break over to fall behind 2-4.

However it was a break that was short lived as Nadal hit back before take the decisive break at 5-5 before he served out the set 6-2 7-5.

Speaking after the match Nadal revealed that he didn't panic when he fell behind in the second set: "It happens when I play against big servers like Taylor.

"The match was close, and I was waiting to have my chance, but you are out of the rhythm from the baseline because he's not giving you the long point. It's difficult to have feel for the ball."

The world number one will now face Julien Benneteau as he dropped just six games in a 6-4 6-2 win over Stanislas Wawrinka.

Mardy Fish saw off Fernando Verdasco in two tight sets 7-6 (7-1) 7-6 (7-4) as Verdasco’s on court troubles continue.

Fish will now meet Frenchman Richard Gasquet as he built on his win over Youzhny earlier in the week as he enjoyed a straightforward win over Michael Berrer 6-4 6-2.

But there was good news for his compatriot David Ferrer as the Spaniard ousted another big hitting American Sam Querrey in just eighty eight minutes.

Ferrer seemed to have put the disappointment of an early exit to Nalbandian in Toronto behind him as he dropped just seven games in a 7-5 6-2 win over the American.

And Ferrer will now face world number six Nikolay Davydenko as the Russian came through a tough three set match against Robby Ginepri.

Davydenko is still finding his form after missing much of the season with a broken wrist but he came through 6-2 6-7 (5-7) 6-2 in two hours and fourteen minutes.

FemaleFirst Helen Earshaw