Bolt, best known for his epic second round takedown of another Frenchman, Gilles Simon, at last year's Australian Open, bounced back from a sluggish second set to win 6-4 2-6 6-0.

It was something of a French theme for the 27 year-old, who was expecting to be playing Pierre-Hugues Herbert only to find out he would be replaced by lucky loser and world No.661 Robert due to illness.

Bolt heard about the change halfway through previous match, but after some loose moments, particularly in the second set, won his way through into the second round.

He'll now take on Jan-Lennard Struff for a spot in the quarter-finals at Memorial Drive.

The German beat another lucky loser in Salvatore Caruso 6-4 6-2.

The day wasn't as successful for fellow Australian Jordan Thompson.

He suffered a first-round defeat at the hands of Spaniard Albert Ramos-Vinalos, 6-4 6-7 (5-7) 6-3.

Earlier, American qualifier Tommy Paul beat Slovenia's Aljaz Bedene 6-4 6-4 and Brit Daniel Evans accounted for Kazakhstan's Alexander Bublik 7-5 6-2.

Evans, fresh from a convincing victory against Juan Londero in the first round and his thrilling win over Australian Alex de Minaur at the ATP Cup, only needed 75 minutes to book his spot in the last eight.

He will now face either third seed Andrey Rublev or Sam Querrey for a place in the semi-finals.

Australian Associated Press