Rafael Nadal has continued his bid for a fourth title of the year by beating Jeremy Chardy 6-3 6-4 in the second round of the Cincinnati Masters.

The Spaniard, who has not won a hard court tournament since the Qatar Open in January 2014, dominated the longer rallies in trademark fashion but Chardy appeared to cope well with his weapons until the break arrived in the fourth game.

Chardy twice had opportunities to break back as Nadal served for the opener, and the Frenchman would live to regret the missed chances.

Another nervy service game would follow early in the second set, but Nadal dealt a blow to Chardy's hopes by saving six break points on the way to a well-earned hold.

The eighth seed secured the break required to put him on course for victory midway through the set, and the win was almost secured when he earned two match points in the ninth game, but he was denied as Chardy forced his rival to serve for the match.

It was far from a routine finish for Nadal, who was forced to save break point for the ninth time in a dramatic climax, but the 14-time Grand Slam winner held his nerve to convert match point at the fifth attempt and set up a third-round clash with Feliciano Lopez.