Medvedev, Zverev Up Streaks At Cincinnati Masters; Tsitsipas Sinks Korda

Masters champions Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev kept on their winning ways on Wednesday at the Cincinnati Masters.

Medvedev, who just won Toronto on Sunday, dominated in his Cincinnati opener rolling Mackenzie McDonald 6-2, 6-2. Medvedev has won his last six matches.

“Mackenzie can play good. Everybody who is in the second round of a Masters can play good tennis, we all know this,” Medvedev told the crowd. “It’s not easy to go from winning a tournament to another tournament in different conditions. You’re tired physically, especially in the first matches because then you get into the tournament and it gets easier. I’m really happy that I managed to win quite easily. I was fighting a bit more for every point, trying to finish as early as possible.”

Medvedev now will meet fellow Cincinnati champion Grigor Dimitrov tomorrow.

“He beat two good opponents here. He’s a very tough player,” Medvedev said. “I played him one time in the semi-finals of a Slam. It means something. I need to show my best to try to win this match. Hopefully I will be able to do it.”

Gold medalist Alexander Zverev won his first match in Cincinnati. After an 0-6 start at the event, Zverev got his first win beating Lloyd Harris 7-6(3), 6-2. Zverev has now won his last seven matches.

“I’m happy with how I am, I’m happy where I’m at and I’m happy to get my first win in seven years here,” Zverev said on court. “It’s obviously a great start to the week.”

Up next for the German is Guido Pella who upset Fabio Fognini.

American big men had a mixed day. After his Canadian Open final run, Reilly Opelka couldn’t sustain his momentum going down to Casper Ruud 6-7(5), 6-0, 7-6(4).

John Isner, though, rallied from a set down to deny Jannik Sinner 5-7, 7-6(4), 6-4. The 20-year-old had a mini-break lead 4-2 in the second set breaker but didn’t win another point.

Isner will battle Benoit Paire next.

Two former champions fell as Marin Cilic went down to Andrey Rublev in three and Andy Murray was ousted by Hubert Hurkacz and his 19 aces 7-6(4), 6-4.

“Playing against Murray is something special. I never had a chance to play a match against him,” Hurkacz told the crowd. “He’s such a great competitor. What he’s done for the sport is really amazing. He’s such a great player and a person. It’s a very big win for me.”

Gael Monfils won his 500th career match. Diego Schwartzman upended Frances Tiafoe in three sets and in the nightcap Stefanos Tsitsipas was just too strong for Sebastian Korda in a 7-6(5), 6-3 win.

“He’s someone who has been doing well recently. I knew I had a difficult challenge ahead of me,” Tsitsipas said on court after. “When things got tough, I stayed there. The match was played in the details.

“I was able to bring the best out of my game when things got tough and persevere. I was consistent throughout the important moments and I think just trying to find solutions and ways to apply as much pressure as possible. That was the key element today.”

THURSDAY CINCINNATI SCHEDULE
Center Court Starts At 11:00 Am
1 Daniil Medvedev v Grigor Dimitrov
Not Before 1:00 PM
1 Ashleigh Barty v 14 Victoria Azarenka
Guido Pella v 3 Alexander Zverev
Not Before 7:00 PM
(WC) Jil Teichmann v 2 Naomi Osaka
5 Matteo Berrettini v 12 Felix Auger-Aliassime

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