August 17, 2006	Thursday	Rajab 21, 1427

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CINCINNATI (Ohio), Aug 16: Roger Federer was twice made to come from behind for his 55th consecutive win on North American hardcourts when overcoming Thailand's Paradorn Srichaphan 7-5, 6-4 in the Cincinnati Masters on Tuesday.

The Swiss world No 1 maintained the torrid pace which lifted him to his seventh trophy of the season at the weekend when he beat Richard Gasquet in Toronto.

Gasquet could not maintain his form, however, and went down in the first-round 7-5, 7-5 to Spaniard Tommy Robredo.

Federer handed Srichaphan a 15th first-round defeat this season after trailing a break in both sets, but the Swiss was able to storm back to earn a third victory over Asia's top player.

Second seed Rafael Nadal overcame 10 aces from American Sam Querrey before defeating the teenager 6-7, 6-2, 6-3.

Fourth seed Ivan Ljubicic dismissed Greg Rusedski 6-3, 6-4 as the Briton lost his sixth consecutive first-round match.

Andy Murray defeated Tim Henman in the second battle of Britain in as many weeks, earning a 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 victory to book a place in round two against Federer.

The Scottish teenager had beaten his 31-year-old mentor in Basel last year and again last week in the Toronto second round.

Last year's finalist Andy Roddick made a return after tearing a rib tendon last month, posting a 6-7, 7-6, 7-6 opening win against Italy's Daniele Bracciali.

HINGIS STRUGGLES

MONTREAL: Former world number one Martina Hingis rallied from a second-set deficit to defeat Italy's Mara Santangelo 7-5, 7-6 in the second round of the Rogers Cup on Tuesday.

Hingis, the seventh seed, trailed 4-1 in the second set, but managed to break back twice to get back in the set before finally prevailing in the tie-breaker to move into the third round.

Hingis will now meet either No 11 Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia or American qualifier Jamea Jackson in the third round.

In the only other second round-match Tuesday, fifth seed Nicole Vaidisova survived a gruelling late match to defeat fellow Czech Lucie Safarova 3-6, 7-5, 6-1.

Local fans were delighted as Canadian wild card Marie-Eve Pelletier stunned 16th seed Na Li of China 6-4, 6-2.

Pelletier, the world No 337, had little difficulty putting away her Chinese opponent to move on to the second round as she attempts to rebound from an injury riddled year.

Another Canadian crowd favorite made it into the second round as wildcard Stephanie Dubois beat lucky loser Tathiana Garbin of Italy 6-4, 6-4 in a match that was suspended on Monday night and again delayed by rain on Tuesday.

Dubois has her work cut out in the second round, however, when she faces top seed and defending champion Kim Clijsters of Belgium on Wednesday.

Russian Anna Chakvetadze beat countrywoman Vera Dushevina 7-5, 6-3 to earn a second-round match against third seeded Russian Nadia Petrova.

—Reuters