James Blake made a misery return after last playing five weeks ago in a Davis Cup disaster.

The US player went down in a marathon lasting more than two and a half hours to Russian Igor Kunitsyn, 7-6 (7-5), 6-7 (5-7), 6-4. Blake last won a match in mid-June on grass.

Czech Tomas Berdych went through at the expense of 10th seed Fernando Gonzalez, who quit after losing the first set 6-4 after suffering with an existing knee injury.

Spain's Guillermo Garcia-Lopez put out another seed as he accounted for number 11 countryman Fernando Verdasco 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-4).

Hewitt, who has been coming to Cincinnati for a decade without a title, achieved his comeback win after suffering with a hip injury in recent weeks in North America.

'I knew it would be a tough match,' said the 28-year-old. 'It was nice to get a win and go through.'

Hewitt's compact game saw him deliver 19 winners against just 11 unforced errors. It contrasted sharply with the free-swinging Soderling's attack, which saw 55 winners but also 50 unforced errors.

Hewitt's victory was his 23rd at Cincinnati against seven losses at an event where he has reached the semi-finals or better five times.