Tiafoe, Mmoh Winners Tuesday In Washington As Korda, Shelton Fall; Murray, Fritz Wed.

It was mixed day in the nation’s capital for the homestanding American men on Tuesday.

Frances Tiafoe and Michael Mmoh were big winners while Ben Shelton, Sebastian Korda and Mackenzie McDonald all lost in second round play in Washington.

Tiafoe, who grew up in D.C., survived a tough test with 29-year-old Aslan Karatsev 7-6(7-5), 7-6(7-5). Neither player was able to break serve with Karatsev missing a set point at 5-4 in the second.

Tiafoe is a perfect 2-0 in tour-level head-to-head encounters with Karatsev.

Mmoh had the upset of the day upending No. 4 seed Hubert Hurkacz in a match that went the distance 6-3, 6-7(4-7), 7-6(7-4). Hurkacz, who connected on 20 aces, had three match points on Mmoh’s serve at 5-4 in the third.

Russia’s Alexander Shevchenko knocked out the struggling 8th-seeded Korda 5-7, 7-6(7-4), 6-4. he 5th-seeded Grigor Dimitrov toppled (28y,54r) McDonald in straights 7-6(8-6), 6-2. And for the second straight week, 18-year-old Jerry Shang surprised Ben Shelton 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.

Elsewhere, Emil Ruusuvuori of Finland took out former finalist and No. 10 seed Yoshihito Nishioka 6-7(5-7), 6-4, 6-2.

In first round play, Brandon Nakashima got the better of Atlanta finalist Aleksandar Vukic of Australia 7-6(7-5), 7-6(11-9). The United States’s Zachary Svajda won a tester over Max Purcell 4-6, 7-6(7-2), 7-5. Thanasi Kokkinakis defeated Taro Daniel 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 and Jordan Thompson topped eliminated Kevin Anderson in three 6-4, 6-7(1-7), 6-1.

Wednesday’s ticket features second round play highlighted by No. 1 Taylor Fritz taking on Svajda in a first-time tour-level collision.

Andy Murray meets Nakashima. No. 3 Felix Auger-Aliassime will battle Yosuke Watanuki also in a first-time tour-level meeting.

No. 6 Alexander Bublik faces Gael Monfils, No. 7 Adrian Mannarino squares off against Jordan Thompson, No. 9 Daniel Evans meets Gregoire Barrere and Wimbledon quarterfinalist Christopher Eubanks clashes with Sho Shimabukuro.

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