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Rafael Nadal wins Madrid opener

Rafael Nadal beat Steve Johnson in his opening match at the Madrid Open. File photo by David Silpa/UPI
Rafael Nadal beat Steve Johnson in his opening match at the Madrid Open. File photo by David Silpa/UPI | License Photo

Two-time defending and four-time overall champion Rafael Nadal was an easy second-round winner Wednesday at the Madrid Open.

After enjoying an opening-round bye, the third-seeded former world No. 1 great eased past American Steve Johnson 6-4, 6-3 at the Magic Box in this clay-court Masters 1000 event.

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Nadal captured a second straight Madrid title last year by beating Japan's Kei Nishikori in the final.

Up next for the nine-time French Open king will be Simone Bolelli, who overcame fellow Italian Luca Vanni 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 on Day 4.

In other action involving Top-10 seeds, No. 6 Czech Tomas Berdych topped last week's Estoril champion Richard Gasquet of France 7-6 (7-3), 7-5; No. 7 David Ferrer took care of fellow Spaniard Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-4, 6-0; Spain's Fernando Verdasco ousted No. 9 U.S. Open champ Marin Cilic of Croatia 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (7-5), 6-3; and No. 10 Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov came from behind to defeat Italian Fabio Fognini 3-6, 6-2, 7-5.

Also on Wednesday, 16th-seeded American John Isner held off Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci 7-6 (7-5), 6-7 (11-13), 6-1.

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[SportsNetwork.com]

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