Cincinnati Masters: Novak Djokovic advances to the last 16 with a win over Benoit Paire

Novak Djokovic attempts a backhand slide in his win over Benoit Paire

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic started his Cincinnati Masters campaign with a 7-5, 6-2 win over Benoit Paire on Wednesday.

It wasn’t all easy for the Serb after the duo exchanged breaks in the opening set. Djokovic broke again to take the opening set in 64 minutes. The World No.1 won 61% points on his serve and converted 2 of 11 break point opportunities. Paire hung in there testing Djokovic for most of the set.

Djokovic, who lost to Andy Murray in the Montreal Masters final upped the ante on Paire’s serve in the second set. The Serb broke Paire’s serve thrice as the Frenchman got just 52% first serves in the second set. Paire did manage to break back once, but it wasn’t enough as Djokovic proved to be too dominant at the end.

Djokovic was happy to come through in straight sets.

"He's a very nice guy off the court and I know him well but this was the first time I played him in an official match so I didn't know what to expect. It was very frustrating at times, Djokovic told Sky Sports.

Cincinnati is the only Masters tournament that Djokovic hasn’t won over the years. He is confident to end that drought this time around.

"I've been playing here pretty well. I'm a four-times finalist but it gives me enough reason to believe I can do well. Today has been a tennis of ups and downs and I definitely need to improve if I want to go far."

Djokovic’s next opponent is David Goffin. The Belgian beat Fernando Verdasco 6-4, 7-6 (4).

French Open champion Stan Wawrinka rallied back from a set down to beat Borna Coric 3-6, 7-6 (3), 6-3. The Swiss broke Coric’s serve just once in the match and hit 10 aces in the last two sets to edge the Croatian in two and a half hours. Next up for Wawrinka is the big serving Ivo Karlovic, who beat Martin Klizan 6-3, 7-6 (2).

Tommy Robredo came through in three sets against American Jack Sock. Robredo won 6-1, 5-7, 6-3 and will take on Tomas Berdych in the next round. The Czech beat Thomaz Bellucci 6-2, 6-3 in his first match on Wednesday. Richard Gasquet advanced to the Round of 16 with a 7-6(5), 6-2 victory over Australia’s Thanasi Kokkinakis. The Frenchman will face Marin Cilic, who took out Joao Sousa 6-4, 6-2 in the second round.

In late night action, Rafael Nadal ousted Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-3, 6-4. He will next take on his compatriot Feliciano Lopez in the next round.