Stepanek edges past Isner

Radek Stepanek edged into the second round of the Cincinnati Masters with a 7-5 5-7 7-6 victory over John Isner.

Czech withstands ace barrage to go through in Cincinnati

Radek Stepanek edged into the second round of the Cincinnati Masters with a 7-5 5-7 7-6 victory over John Isner. The veteran Czech claimed his first title for more than two years earlier this month and continued his rich vein of form against the big-serving American. Isner sent down a total of 21 aces in the two hour 46 minute clash but Stepanek held firm, saving three break points in the final set to take it 7-4 in the tie-break. French 10th seed Gilles Simon overcame the loss of the first set to beat Jurgen Melzer of Austria 6-7 6-3 7-5 while 15th seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga enjoyed an easier ride against Marin Cilic of Croatia, coming through 6-3 6-4. But there were two seeds to fall in the early evening session, with a third Frenchman, Michael Llodra, joining his compatriots in the next round at the expense of the 13th seed Mikhail Youzhny 7-5 3-6 7-6. And Swiss number two Stan Wawrinka suffered a surprise 6-3 4-6 1-6 defeat to Andrey Golubev of Kazakhstan.