The third round of the 2016 Winston-Salem Open got underway Wednesday, as the field attempted to round itself into shape in the final tuneup for the U.S. Open.After looking vulnerable in his second-round match, top-seeded Richard Gasquet was strong in his defeat of countrymanStephane Robert. Third-seededPablo Cuevas and fourth-seeded Steve Johnson weren't so lucky, though, as both bowed out in straight-set losses.Gasquet barely broke a sweat in his 6-1, 6-3 win overRobert. The Frenchman broke Robert five times, saved seven times when facing a break and won 64 percent of the match's points overall. Robert double-faulted on sixoccasions and won only five of his 22 points when he got second serves in play.I was very pleased with the way I played, Gasquet said, per John Delong of the tournament's website. I had a tough first-round match, but I was feeling better today because its always difficult to play the first round. Ive known Stephane for a long time now, and I know how dangerous he can be, so Im very happy to be in the quarterfinals here.Gasquet, 30, reached the U.S. Open semifinals in 2013 and the quarterfinals a year ago. He's struggled over the past couple of months with a back injury and said he hopes playing in Cincinnati helps him get back into form.The longer you play, the better you are playing, the better you feel physically, because you are running, you are fighting on the court, Gasquet said. I need it. When you are not on tour, it is very difficult to come back. Thats why I need matches. Thats why I came here, and now Im in the quarterfinals. So everything is progressing well.Cuevas, meanwhile, had an opposite experience in Cincinnati. His second-round match was a breeze, but his third round ended in disappointment.Pablo Carreno Bustaearned a 6-3, 7-6 (1) victory on the back of winning just two breaks, thanks to taking 82 percent of his first-serve chances and being broken just once. The Spaniard managed to overcome four double-faults and frustrating struggles on placing his serves.Carreno is a top player, and today he played so fast, very aggressive, Cuevas said. I had chances in the second, but the tiebreak I played bad. It was not a good day for me today. I think the condition is so quick here, and I didnt have a very good feeling with the ball, so I didnt have a very good feeling today.Fernando Verdasco, another Spaniard, earned the day's other big upset with a 6-4, 7-6 (7) win over Johnson. Verdasco matched Johnson's 10 aces and won 82 percent of his serves. The match came down to break-point conversions, with Verdasco scoring the only break of the match in the first set. Johnson had three opportunities, but Verdasco saved each time.A mere seven points overall separated the two men.Second-seeded Roberto Bautista Agut moved on despite dropping his first set toMarcos Baghdatis, coming back for a 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 victory. Bautista Agut overcame five double-faults, winning 49 percent of his return points overall.Baghdatis struggled with his serve the entire match and couldn't quite keep up with breaks. While he got threenormally good enough to advance in this settinghis complete failure to locate his serve was his undoing.Andrey Kuznetsov, the No. 11-seeded Russian, moved on in a walkover againstJiri Vesely when the latter retired in the first set.John Millman,Lu Yen-Hsun and Viktor Troicka also kept their run going into the quarters despite being unseeded.
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