Halle, Jun 14: Rafael Nadal defeated Lukas Lacko 7-5. 6-1 at the Gerry Weber Open on Thursday, in the Spaniard's first singles since clinching his record seventh French Open title.
Nadal twice broke the Slovak in a first set that lasted 50 minutes, before finally making his superiority count against Lacko in a second set that was only half as long.
Nadal will next play defending champion Philipp Kohlschreiber, who rallied from a set down to defeat Lukasz Kubot of Poland 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-3.
Also, wild card Tommy Haas eliminated sixth-seeded Marcel Granollers of Spain 6-3, 6-4 in which the German won 93 per cent of his service points.
Five-time winner Roger Federer was playing late against Germany's Florian Mayer.
