Nadal makes winning start on grass at Halle

HALLE, Germany (AP) - 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.

Nadal broke the Slovak twice in the first set of this grass-court Wimbledon tuneup and had no trouble in the second set. 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.

Wild card Tommy Haas eliminated sixth-seeded Marcel Granollers of Spain 6-3, 6-4 in which the German won 93 percent of his service points.

Five-time winner Roger Federer was to face Germany's Florian Mayer.