Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer advance

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HALLE, Germany -- Rafael Nadal defeated Lukas Lacko 7-5, 6-1 at the Gerry Weber Open on Thursday, the Spaniard's first singles match since he won a record seventh French Open. Roger Federer, a five-time winner of this Wimbledon tuneup, downed Germany's Florian Mayer 6-4, 7-5.

Nadal broke his Slovak opponent twice in the first set and had no trouble in the second.

"In the second set, I think I did everything better," said Nadal, who defeated top-ranked Novak Djokovic at Roland Garros on Monday for his 11th Gram Slam title. "Every hour on court works well for me -- on grass -- because I don't have a lot of time to practice. I'm happy to be through, that's the main thing."

Nadal will next play defending champion Philipp Kohlschreiber. Federer, the winner of 16 Grand Slam tournaments, will next face fifth-seeded Milos Raonic of Canada.

Federer took only one of five break points in the first set. Both players held serve in the second set until the 12th game, when Federer sealed it with a shot past Mayer.

Kohlschreiber rallied from a set down and struck 11 aces to defeat Lukasz Kubot of Poland 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-3.

"I was too anxious and missed too many chances," Kohlschreiber said.

Kohlschreiber, ranked 33rd, has never beaten Nadal in eight attempts.

Wild card Tommy Haas of Germany, the 2009 winner, eliminated sixth-seeded Marcel Granollers of Spain 6-3, 6-4, setting up a quarterfinal with third-seeded Tomas Berdych, the 2007 winner. The 34-year-old Haas is the oldest player in the singles draw.

Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press

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