James Ward shocks Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in Cincinnati

James Ward's win over Guillermo Garcia-Lopez is his first in a Masters Series event

James Ward is through to the second round of the Western & Southern Open after a 6-2 3-6 6-1 victory over Spain's Guillermo Garcia-Lopez.

The British number two broke twice in the first and third sets in Cincinnati.

Ward, 27, next meets Julien Benneteau on Wednesday after the Frenchman beat Blaz Rola 6-7 (7-9) 6-3 7-6 (9-7).

Elsewhere, Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga suffered a first-round defeat, going down 6-1 6-4 to Russia's Mikhail Youzhny.

Londoner Ward, who progressed to the first round proper after qualifier victories over world number 78 Tobias Kamke of Germany and France's Paul-Henri Mathieu, settled into his rhythm immediately and broke the Spaniard in the first game.

Ward earned the double break in the seventh game after Garcia-Lopez double-faulted three times in succession, then served out to take the set 6-2.

The Briton had eight break points in the opening game of the second set, but failed to convert any of them as Garcia-Lopez dug deep to hold serve.

The Spaniard went on to break his opponent in the fourth game on his way to taking the second set 6-3.

The momentum seemed to be with the right-hander from Albacete, but Ward broke twice in the deciding set to secure victory against an opponent ranked 116 places higher in the world rankings.

In the women's competition, Venus Williams lost 6-7 (2-7) 6-3 6-4 to 16th seed Lucie Safarova, fifth seed Maria Sharapova overcame American Madison Keys in their evening second-round contest 6-1 3-6 6-3 in just under two hours and Caroline Wozniacki beat China's Zhang Shuai 6-2 6-3.