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As it has most of this hard court summer, rain is again causing problems for the pro tour. Today in Cincinnati, just 11 of 20 matches scheduled were completed, and only three of those were on the men’s side.
Juan Martin del Potro was still a round behind but he quickly took care of Hyeon Chung 6-2, 6-3. He was scheduled to play later against Nick Kyrgios but that was cancelled.
“I am happy to beat these young players,” del Potro said. “He has a big future, and he is a nice player. I am glad to go through.”
Also finishing before the rains were Pablo Carreno Busta who ousted Robin Haase 6-4, 6-2. And Milos Raonic knocked out countryman Denis Shapovalov 7-6(6), 6-4 in an all-Canadian affair.
“I think I got myself into more points on his serve than he did on mine. I think that was an important thing.” Raonic said. “It was the thing I struggled with most last time we played, so I definitely made sure to focus on that and sort of try to change that a little bit.”
Novak Djokovic and defending champion Grigor Dimitrov got underway in the evening, and the Bulgarian raced out to a set and a break lead, closing in on his first win over Djokovic in over five years. But Djokovic turned things around winning the last five games to level at 2-6, 6-3. After a 90-minute or so delay, the match resume and Djokovic went up a break 2-1 before a final rainstorm ended play for the night just after 10pm.
Also stopped in progress was Marin Cilic and Karen Khachanov who were knotted at 1-all in the third and Stan Wawrinka-Marton Fucsovics had just got underway at 2-1.
On Friday, with the third round and the quarterfinals scheduled, 7-time champion Roger Federer will have to win two full matches to stay alive. As will Kevin Anderson.
If they both win, Federer and Wawrinka would meet in the quarterfinals Friday night.
FRIDAY CINCINNATI SCHEDULE
CENTER Starts At 11:00 AM
1 Simona Halep v 16 Ashleigh Barty
10 Novak Djokovic v 5 Grigor Dimitrov
Leonardo Mayer v 2Roger Federer
Milos Raonic v Novak Djokovic or Grigor Dimitrov
Not Before 7:00 PM
13 Madison Keys v Aryna Sabalenka
Marton Fucsovics or Stan Wawrinka v Leonardo Mayer or Roger Federer
GRANDSTAND Starts At 11:00 Am
15 Nick Kyrgios v 4 Juan Martin del Potro
Marton Fucsovics v (WC) Stan Wawrinka
8 Petra Kvitova v 15 Elise Mertens
Elina Svitolina or Amanda Anisimova v Anett Kontaveit or Kiki Bertens
Kevin Anderson or David Goffin v Nick Kyrgios or Juan Martin del Potro
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