Wednesday, August 16 2006 11:05 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Cincinnati: Rafael Nadal eases further into his US Open buildup on Tuesday (15 Aug, 2006) holding off inspired American teenager Sam Querrey 6-7 (5-7), 6-2, 6-3 to advance in his opening match at the ATP Cincinnati Masters.

Fourth-seeded Croatian Ivan Ljubicic, who keeps Briton Greg Rusedski winless after three months with a 6-3, 6-4 victory, joins the Spanish world number two in the second round. Canadian-born Rusedski has now lost six first-round contests in a row, last winning in the second round in Rome in May.

Nadal plays his way into form after a third-round defeat last week in Toronto, where he went out to Czech Tomas Berdych, who failed here as he went out to Swede Robin Soderling. The 18-year-old Querrey, ranked 178, rains down ten aces but can never break the Nadal serve.

After losing in the opening tiebreaker, Nadal finds his form to grind out victory in two hours and two minutes.

"In the third set, I improved my game a lot," says Nadal, whose five titles this season trail defending champion Roger Federer's seven after the Swiss world number one won last weekend in Toronto.

"My forehand got better and I relaxed. But I need to get some more confidence in my game. My movement also needs to improve and I need to play with more aggression."

Federer is opening later against Asia's top player in Thai Paradorn Srichaphan with the winner to face 19-year-old Scottish prodigy Andy Murray in the second round. Murray continues the changing of the guard in British tennis, defeating compatriot Tim Henman 4-6, 6-4, 7-5.

It is the second victory in as many weeks for Murray, who beats his boyhood idol in the second round at Toronto last week. Henman is one victory shy of also meeting Murray in a Washington semi-final two weeks ago.

"It's called the luck of the draw," Henman says of facing the teen so soon.

"It happens sometimes. That's how it goes."

Murray begins his rivalry with the 59th-ranked Englishman with a victory indoors last October at the Swiss Indoors.

"I'm feeling a little bit tired, but that's normal," says Murray, who has reached the Washington final and Toronto semis since teaming with coach Brad Gilbert a few weeks ago.

"I played 10 matches in 11 days, then had a day of travel getting here. I managed to get an hour of practice in but it was different conditions today." "I didn't feel as comfortable during the match. I did well to fight hard."