Rain Ravages Cincinnati, First Round Matches Still To Be Completed; Murray, Nadal Wednesday

For a third straight day the Cincinnati Masters was impacted by rain. The schedule called for 37 matches on the day but just 20 were completed during numerous rain delays.

Four women’s first round and four from the men’s first round are unfinished and demand priority tomorrow.

Earlier today in the men’s draw, Richard Gasquet, David Goffin, Bernard Tomic and Gael Monfils all advanced.

American men did well with John Isner and Steve Johnson getting wins but Taylor Fritz went down to Mikhail Youzhny. And Jared Donaldson led No. 2 seed Stan Wawrinka before play was called.

In the women’s draw, just 7 singles matches were completed. Barbora Strycova beat Eugenie Bouchard. Karolina Pliskova, Annicka Beck, Alize Cornet and Alison Riske also won today.

On Wednesday, virtually anyone left in either singles draw is on court. And that means the debuts of Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal, Kei Nishikori, Simona Halep, Angelique Kerber and Garbine Muguruza.

“Cincinnati is a Masters 1000. It’s a big event … it’s obvious that’s going be tough,” Nadal said. “I am here to try my best and I am here to play at the highest level that I could.”

Murray’s opponent is still to be determined between Ivo Karlovic and Juan Monaco. Nadal meets Pablo Cuevas who beat the Spaniard earlier this year in Rio in three sets. Australian Open champ Kerber is also awaiting her opponent.

In the match of the day, serving robots Milos Raonic and John Isner collide with the Canadian seeking his first win over Isner in four tries.

WEDNESDAY CINCINNATI SCHEDULE
CENTER COURT start 11:00 am
WTA – [Q] A. Beck (GER) vs [3] S. Halep (ROU)
[WC] J. Donaldson (USA) vs [2] S. Wawrinka (SUI) 62 03
ATP – [4] M. Raonic (CAN) vs J. Isner (USA)
ATP – P. Cuevas (URU) vs [3] R. Nadal (ESP)

Not Before 7:00 pm
WTA – [Q] K. Bondarenko (UKR) or K. Mladenovic (FRA) vs [2] A. Kerber (GER)

Not Before 8:30 pm
ATP – [1] A. Murray (GBR) vs I. Karlovic (CRO) or [PR] J. Monaco (ARG)