TENNIS STARS DESCEND ON CINCINNATI, KYRGIOS AND CILIC ADVANCE TO SECOND ROUND

Written by: on 16th August 2016
Western and Southern Open tennis tournament
TENNIS STARS DESCEND ON CINCINNATI, KYRGIOS AND CILIC ADVANCE TO SECOND ROUND

epa05488435 Marin Cilic of Croatia hits a return shot to Viktor Troicki of Serbia in their first round match of the Western & Southern Open tennis championships at the Linder Family Tennis Center in Mason, near Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, 15 August 2016. EPA/TANNEN MAURY  |

By Ricky Dimon

 

Fresh off a gold medal in doubles at the Rio Olympics to go along with a tough fourth-place finish in singles, Rafael Nadal arrived at the Western & Southern Open on Monday afternoon. Nadal was scheduled to practice in the evening, but those plans were eventually cancelled. Rain rather than fatigue or injury may have been the most significant factor in such a development, but that remains to be seen.

 

Tomas Berdych, who should be well-rested after skipping the Olympics, held his pre-tournament press conference. The hot topic was his new partnership with coach Goran Ivanisevic, who recently split from Marin Cilic.

 

“I think that was the person I was waiting for,” Berdych said of the 2001 Wimbledon champion. “He’s the guy who found a way to break through. So let’s see if it’s going to be the right thing–the right addition.

 

“These days I think 30 is not an old age for tennis players,” the Czech continued. “If you look around, I think it’s still a pretty good time. That’s why I’m just trying to look for all the possible help and just trying to improve myself as best as I can.”

 

As for the on-court action, rain held off just enough to get in a full day of play. Cilic was among those earning spots in the second round, as the 12th-seeded Croat coasted past Viktor Troicki 6-2, 7-5.

 

Nick Kyrgios of Australia returns to Lucas Pouillem (not pictured) of France in the first round match of the Western & Southern Open tennis championships at the Linder Family Tennis Center in Mason, near Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, 15 August 2016. EPA/TANNEN MAURY

Cilic is joined in the last 32 by an in-form Nick Kyrgios, who is coming off his second career ATP title in Atlanta. Kyrgios had an intriguing Cincinnati opener on his hands against Lucas Pouille, but for the most part the Australian turned it into one-way traffic. He broke serve twice in the first set before taking complete control with a backhand pass on break point at 5-5 in the second. A routine hold at 6-5 gave Kyrgios the win after just one hour and seven minutes.

 

It as also a stellar day for young Americans. Both Reilly Opelka and Jared Donaldson, who received wild cards into the main draw, battled into the second round. Opelka, a recent Atlanta semifinalist, saved two match points before upsetting Jeremy Chardy 3-6, 7-5, 7-6(9). Donaldson maintained his winning ways by defeating Nicolas Almagro 6-3, 7-6(2).

 

The only seed to bow out on Monday was No. 10 David Ferrer, whose slump continued with a 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 loss to Julien Benneteau.

 

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand.

 

Topics: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,








10sBalls Top Stories

In Case You Missed It

EUGENIE BOUCHARD NAMED 2018 TENNIS CANADA FEMALE PLAYER OF THE YEAR / EUGENIE BOUCHARD NOMMÉE JOUEUSE DE L’ANNÉE 2018 DE TENNIS CANADA thumbnail

EUGENIE BOUCHARD NAMED 2018 TENNIS CANADA FEMALE PLAYER OF THE YEAR / EUGENIE BOUCHARD NOMMÉE JOUEUSE DE L’ANNÉE 2018 DE TENNIS CANADA

Tennis Canada announced on Wednesday that Eugenie Bouchard is the winner of the 2018 Excellence Awards in the Female Player of the Year and Singles Player of the Year categories.
TENNIS NEWS • CALIFORNIA CHAMPIONSHIPS • TOMMY HAAS, TAYLOR FRITZ, STEVE JOHNSON, MARDY FISH AND MORE thumbnail

TENNIS NEWS • CALIFORNIA CHAMPIONSHIPS • TOMMY HAAS, TAYLOR FRITZ, STEVE JOHNSON, MARDY FISH AND MORE

Time to get tickets to watch! Surly you have heard about The Largest Open Tennis Event in America!
TENNIS NEWS • RAFA NADAL CONFIRMS RETURN TO PRACTICE, EYES ABU DHABI EXHIBITION AND AUSTRALIAN SUMMER thumbnail

TENNIS NEWS • RAFA NADAL CONFIRMS RETURN TO PRACTICE, EYES ABU DHABI EXHIBITION AND AUSTRALIAN SUMMER

According to Uncle Toni, Rafael Nadal was supposed to be back at practice on either Dec. 4 or 5. Well, better late than never!
Conchita Martínez prepara la temporada 2019 de Karolina Pliskova en Tenerife thumbnail

Conchita Martínez prepara la temporada 2019 de Karolina Pliskova en Tenerife

Española y checa ya trabajaron juntas durante el pasado Open de Estados Unidos
ALEJANDRO’S FAVORITE PHOTOS FOR 10SBALLS FROM SOME OF THIS YEAR’S TOURNAMENTS thumbnail

ALEJANDRO’S FAVORITE PHOTOS FOR 10SBALLS FROM SOME OF THIS YEAR’S TOURNAMENTS

Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia hits a forehand to Kaia Kanepi of Estonia during her second round match at the Nature Valley International tennis tournament in Eastbourne, Great Britain, on Tuesday, June 26, 2018.