18 August,2010 09:00 AM IST | | AFP
Czech seventh seed Tomas Berdych, the Wimbledon runner-up, and Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis advanced to a third-round matchup with triumphs at the ATP Cincinnati Masters tournament yesterday.
Berdych defeated France's Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-4, 6-4 while Baghdatis outlasted Brazil's Thomaz Bellucci 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (7/4) at the three million-dollar event, a tuneup for the US Open that begins August 30.
Swiss third seed Roger Federer and Andy Murray, like all top-eight seeds received a first-round bye.
British fourth seed Andy Murray, fresh off taking the Toronto Masters title by defeating world number one Rafael Nadal and Federer in weekend matches, learned his second-round foe will be France's Jeremy Chardy.
Two other Frenchman advanced in three sets, with Richard Gasquet taking out Russian Mikhail Youzhny 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 and Julien Benneteau beating countryman Michael Llodra 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.
Two other Frenchmen were sent packing as well, with American Mardy Fish beating Gilles Simon 7-6 (7/4), 7-5 to secure a date with Spanish eighth seed Fernando Verdasco and Colombian Alejandro Falla ousting Gael Monfils 6-3, 6-4.
