Djokovic Overcomes Slow Start In Rainy Cincy, Zverev Stays Winless; Federer Returns Thurs
- 28 Comments
Novak Djokovic has never won the Cincinnati Masters, and after dropping the opening set to Frenchman Adrian Mannarino it looked like it was going to stay that way. But the Serb picked him game up and cruised from there to a 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 victory.
“I think it adds more to the motivation rather than pressure,” Djokovic said of being the first to win all nine Masters. “I really want to win this tournament, and I have been trying. I’m still in the tournament this year, and hopefully I can get a shot at the title.
“But I need to definitely play better than I have in the first couple matches. I have been training a lot and trying to find the game and the level of tennis that I want to be on. I am motivated to get far in this tournament, without a doubt.”
Djokovic also needed medical attention in the second set for an upset stomach.
“I wasn’t feeling well. I didn’t have a great night and wasn’t feeling that well for the first set and a half,” Djokovic said. “I kind of made it through, and with the help of the doctor and God I’m just happy that I managed to overcome the challenge.
“Credit to him playing well in the first set, but I wasn’t myself. On the court I had difficulty moving around and just hitting the ball, making a lot of unforced errors. The second part of the second set and third set it was already much better. I will try to take that into next match.”
To continue, Djokovic will have to knock out the defending champion Grigor Dimitrov tomorrow. The Bulgarian won over Mischa Zverev 7-6(5), 7-5. Djokovic is 7-1 against Dimitrov.
The Zverevs in general had a bad day. Younger Alexander was dumped by Robin Haase 5-7, 6-4, 7-5. Alexander falls to 0-4 at Cincinnati and he’ll go into the US Open on a 2-match losing streak.
Stan Wawrinka enjoyed a solid win beaten Kei Nishikori 6-4, 6-4.
Kevin Anderson, Milos Raonic, Marin Cilic and Karen Khachanov were among to the big men to advance.
2017 finalist Nick Kyrgios also was a winner as was David Goffin.
After a lengthy rain delay mid-afternoon, a final deluge just before 11pm finished off play as Juan Martin del Potro and Hyeon Chung never got started after warmup.
More in is in the forecast for third round Thursday. If the weather allows, 7-time champion Roger Federer returns to face Argentine Leonardo Mayer.
Raonic will take on fellow Canadian Denis Shapovalov and Cilic challenges Khachanov.
THURSDAY CINCINNATI SCHEDULE
CENTER start 11:00 am
ATP – Milos Raonic (CAN) vs Denis Shapovalov (CAN)
Not Before 1:00 pm
WTA to finish – [1] Simona Halep vs [Q] Ajla Tomljanovic (Australia) 4-6 6-3 4-3
WTA – [4] Angelique Kerber (GER) vs [13] Madison Keys (USA)
ATP – [10] Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs [5] Grigor Dimitrov (BUL)
Not Before 7:00 pm
ATP – Leonardo Mayer (ARG) vs [2] Roger Federer (SUI)
Not Before 9:00 pm
WTA – [1] Simona Halep (ROM) or [Q] Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS) vs [16] Ashleigh Barty (AUS)
GRANDSTAND start 11:00 am
WTA – [8] Petra Kvitova (CZE) vs Kristina Mladenovic (FRA)
Not Before 1:00 pm
ATP to finish – Hyeon Chung (KOR) vs [4] Juan Martin del Potro (ARG) 0-0
ATP – Karen Khachanov (RUS) vs [7] Marius Cilic (CRO)
WTA – [15] Elise Mertens (BEL) vs [3] Sloane Stephens (USA)
ATP – Marton Fucsovics (HUN) vs [WC] Stan Wawrinka (SUI)
Not Before 7:00 pm
WTA – Anett Kontaveit (ESP) vs Kiki Bertens (NED)
You Might Like:
Tsitsipas v Alcaraz Showdown Looms Friday In Barcelona
Tennis-X Funk/Trunk: Murray, Rafa, Kim-tastic
Sabalenka Advances To Last 4 Of WTA Finals; Garcia v Kasatkina For Last SF Spot
Zverev Saves 2 MPs v Jarry In Rainy Geneva For First Title Of 2019
Third Round US Open Thoughts; Federer, Nadal And What The Heck Is Going On!