Raonic needs under an hour to win opener

CINCINNATI Canada’s Milos Raonic cruised into the second round of the Western and Southern Open tennis tournament with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Serbian qualifier Dusan Lajovic on Tuesday.

Raonic, from Thornhill, Ont., converted 95 per cent of his successful first serves into points, including 13 aces. He converted three of five break-point opportunities while never facing break point himself.

Playing in his first match since retaking the mantle of top-seeded Canadian on the ATP Tour from Denis Shapovalov, Raonic completed the 57-minute win by breaking Lajovic in the final game.

Raonic, ranked 29th in the world, next faces lucky loser Malek Jaziri. The Tunisian had a bye into the second round, replacing topranked Spaniard Rafael Nadal in the main draw.

Shapovalov, from Richmond Hill, Ont., was scheduled to face Britain’s Kyle Edmund in a secondround match on Tuesday night.

Edmund and Shapovalov had faced each other five times heading into their latest match, with the Canadian holding a 3-2 edge.

Meanwhile, Karolina Pliskova and Nick Kyrgios advanced with victories.

Pliskova snapped a seven-match losing streak against Agnieszka Radwanska to reach the second round.

Kyrgios, last year’s Cincinnati finalist, fought off qualifier Denis Kudla 6-7 (2), 7-5, 7-6 (9).

Australian Open semifinalist Hyeon Chung beat Jack Sock 2-6, 6-1, 6-2.

Robin Haase also made it to the second round, defeating Filip Krajinovic 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.

On the women’s side, Elise Mertens scored a 6-4, 6-2 win over Magdalena Rybarikova. Ashleigh Barty stopped wild-card Marketa Vondrousova 6-3, 7-5.

Maria Sakkari upset Indian Wells champion Naomi Osaka while Ekaterina Makarova cruised past qualifier Ana Bogdan.