Nishikori seals last-16 spot in Dubai

Top seed Kei Nishikori has cruised into the second round of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

The Japanese star beat the unseeded Frenchman Benoit Paire 6-4, 6-3.

Denis Kudla and Egor Gerasimov are also through to the last-16.

American Kudla came from a set down to beat Matteo Berrettini, progressing 2-6, 7-5, 7-5.

Gerasimov, meanwhile, claimed two tie-breaks to oust Robin Haase 7-6, 7-6.

They join the likes of Roger Federer, Fernando Verdasco and Roberto Bautista Agut in the next round.