No. 9 seed James Blake pulled away from Colombian qualifier Alejandro Falla to win 7-6(5), 6-1, and improve his match record to 34-17 on the season. Blake converted three of six break points in the 68-minute match and he will face German Nicolas Kiefer on Wednesday.

Blake said concerns over a stomach injury had him in a tentative frame of mind early. "I pulled a stomach muscle last week and I was just kind of testing it. So just kind of trying to be careful and figure out what I wanted to do... it felt good by the end of the first set. "Second set I was able to swing a little bit more freely and go for my shots, especially with the confidence having won the first set without playing my best tennis."

Defending champion Andy Roddick began his quest for a third Cincinnati crown with a polished 7-6(3), 6-2 win over left-handed Spaniard Fernando Verdasco. Roddick, who hit 13 aces, was forced to save a break point at 5-5 in thr first set.

Roddick improved to 25-5 in Cincinnati. The former World No. 1 captured the title in 2003 (d. Fish) and 2006 (d. Ferrero). He also reached the final in 2005 (l. Federer).

Roddick noted that he was in a much stronger position this year than last, when he needed three tie-break sets to beat Daniele Bracciali in the first round before going on to win the title. "Last year I was a couple points from dropping out of the Top 20, and here I'm solidly at, No. 4 or somewhere around there. So it is a big difference. But this is kind of where the big turnaround took place."

Finn Jarkko Nieminen clipped seventh-seeded Spaniard Tommy Robredo 6-4, 6-1 and now awaits the winner of Ivan Ljubicic and Nicolas Almagro. Nieminen had lost 16 consecutive matches against Top 10 players dating back to 2005 Roland Garrros, when he defeated No. 7 Andre Agassi in the first round. He is now 6-34 lifetime against Top 10 opponents.

Radek Stepanek continued his successful summer play as he defeated American Mardy Fish 7-5, 7-6(3). Stepanek, who captured his second career ATP title in Los Angeles last month and advanced to the semifinals last week at ATP Masters Series Montreal, improved to 13-3 since July.

Stepanek converted two of seven break points in the one hour and 39 minute match and saved four of five break points he faced. The Czech No. 2 has improved his ATP Ranking from No. 127 on July 9 to No. 36 as of Monday.

Juan Martin del Potro defeated No. 1 Argentine and No. 15 seed Guillermo Canas 6-2, 6-2, in an all-countrymen match-up. The 18-year-old qualifier won his 20th match of the season (20-16) and he will take on German Philipp Kohlschreiber in the second round.

Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis needed only 48 minutes to eliminate No. 14 seed and last year's quarterfinalist Andy Murray. The 20-year-old Scot was playing in his second tournament since returning from a wrist injury he suffered in May.

Baghdatis converted five of six break points and never faced a break point on his serve.

Murray said: "I was hitting the ball harder today off my forehand and hitting topspin returns. It was definitely better but there's just a lot of things that I wasn't really doing well: not moving fluidly, which is normally the one thing that I do really well. Moved badly, so obviously wasn't hitting my forehand 100%. Combination of those two things and also playing against a great player like Marcos doesn't help."

For tickets or information click here, or call 513-651-0303. Tickets also are available via TicketMaster at 513-562-4949 or www.ticketmaster.com.