No. 11 seed Ivan Ljubicic rallied to defeat American qualifier Amer Delic 1-6, 7-6(3), 6-3. The No. 1 Croat, a quarterfinalist in Cincinnati last year, converted two of eight break points in the two hour and 12 minute match. Ljubicic, who is 2-0 lifetime against Delic, broke in the fourth game of the final set. Delic fired 17 aces and broke Ljubicic four times, three in the first set.
Ljubicic improved to 35-16 on the season and he will face Spaniard Nicolas Almagro in the second round.
Nicolas Kiefer continued his steady comeback from last year's wrist injury as he defeated Marat Safin 6-3, 7-6(1). The 30-year-old German improved his match record to 7-4 on the season and went to 4-3 in his career head-to-head against Safin, defeating the Russian for the third straight time. Kiefer improved his career record to 8-7 in Cincinnati and he will take on the winner of qualifier Alejandro Falla and No. 9 James Blake in the second round.
Tough Spaniard David Ferrer dominated big-serving American John Isner from the back court to set up a 7-6(3), 6-3 win under lights. Isner was unable to pressure Ferrer when engaged in baseline exchanges, winning just 13 points on the Ferrer serve. Ferrer passed with precision when his opponent attacked the net.
Isner, who two weeks ago reached the Washington final on debut, found himself in familiar tie-break territory in the first set, but after surrendering his serve in the second game of the second set Ferrer moved in for the kill.
Ferrer said: "[Against Isner] You have to take your chances at the important moments. And if you lose your serve you are dead."
Isner said: "Still, I only got broken once and I had my chances. My serve struggled a little bit today and it hurt me."
Another young big-serving American, Sam Querrey, fared better. He recovered from being a break down in the third set against Frenchman Marc Gicquel to win 7-5, 5-7, 6-4. Querrey hit 15 aces.
No. 10 seed Tomas Berdych needed just 57 minutes to dismiss German Benjamin Becker 6-3, 6-4, saving the lone break point he faced and losing just four points on his first serve.
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