Pilot Pen opens with Dent advancing

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) -Taylor Dent has won his first-round match at the Pilot Pen, the final hardcourt tuneup before the U.S. Open.

Dent won his ninth ATP match of the season, and third this month, 6-3, 6-4, over Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia. After two back operations in 2006, Dent has seen his ATP singles ranking rise from No. 865 at the start of this season to No. 202 at the start of last week.

One of the hardest-hitting servers in the men's game, the American was ranked a career-high 21st in August 2005, before severe back pain put him on the sidelines, including a six-month stretch in a body cast.

Dent was awarded a wild card this week to help him prepare for the U.S. Open next week.

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