Cincinnati, Ohio  - Rafael Nadal is much more interested in improving his lifetime Cincinnati Masters record rather than wondering what it might take to put him into the world number 1 position.

"I'm thinking about playing a good tournament here," the Spaniard said on Tuesday 48 hours after lifting his seventh title of the season by winning Toronto.

"I've only made the quarter-finals once, it's one of my worst results in the Masters Series."

And the reigning Roland Garros and Wimbledon champion added in his standard refrain: "I don't think about the number one ranking because I'm the number two.

"Sure it's a goal for me, if I'm number one any day it will be nice, but my goal is to continue playing like I have."

Nadal's chances of taking over the top spot held for 235 weeks - four and a half years - by Roger Federer, now rest with the Swiss player and his performance this week as holder.

Should Federer lose before the semi-finals and Nadal takes the title, the Spaniard will have finally achieved his dream, according to ATP calculations.

The Swiss was beginning his title defence later against American Robby Ginepri, whom he has beaten four times since 2001.

In first-round play, 11th seed Richard Gasquet advanced over Michael Llodra as his fellow Frenchman had to quit with an arm injury trailing 3-6, 6-1, 1-0.

Two more French players moved through as Florent Serra beat Germany's Benjamin Becker 4-6, 7-6 (8-6), 6-4 and veteran Arnaud Clement out out Swede Thomas Johansson 7-6 (7-4), 6-7 (5-7), 6-3.

Qualifier Chris Guccione of Australia won his first ATP level match since early June, ending four losses with a defeat of American Jesse Levine 6-3, 6-4.

2002 Cincinnati champion Carlos Moya, ranked 41st, moved ahead to the second round over Serb Janko Tipsarevic 7-6 (7-5), 7-5.

American John Isner produced a flawless mark on first serve, winning 39 of 39 in a defeat of Italian Andrea Stoppini 7-6 (7-2), 6- 3. Along the way, the former university champion fired 17 aces. (dpa)