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Pliskova, who needed just 78 minutes to breeze
past Poland's Magda Linette 6-2 6-1 in her opener will be eager
to make similarly quick work of American qualifier Nicole Gibbs.
The Czech, however, will have to be wary of the 127th ranked
Gibbs, who made the third round of the Australian Open before
falling to eventual champion Serena Williams.
Nadal needed a tight first set to get in gear in his opening
match then raced past Serb Dusan Lajovic 7-6 (6) 6-2 6-2 and
will be well rested for his meeting with Japan's Taro Daniel.
The 121st ranked Daniel, who was born in the United States and
lives in Spain, was involved in a five-set marathon against
American Tommy Paul on Wednesday in match that was pushed back
after rain wiped out play on Tuesday.
Five-time U.S. champion Roger Federer also survived a five-set
nailbiter against hard-hitting American Frances Tiafoe and will
be desperate to avoid a similar battle with veteran Russian
veteran Mikhail Youzhny.
Federer has won all 16 head-to-head meetings with Youzhny.
Sixth seeded Austrian Dominic Thiem meets American wild card
Taylor Fritz while seventh Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, winner of
three titles this year including the U.S. Open tuneup in
Cincinnati, faces Russia's Andrey Rublev.
(Editing by Greg Stutchbury)
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