Sinner back with a bang to serve it up in Cincinnati
Four-time grand slam singles champion Sinner wasted no time in crushing Galan 6-1 6-1 on Saturday (local time).
World No.1 Sinner opted to take some time off after his Wimbledon win, his first title on the hallowed grass courts in England, where he beat two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz.
Sinner was certainly in pristine form at the ATP 1000 hard-court event after a first-round bye, producing just four unforced errors.
Sinner, the defending champion in Cincinnati, next plays Canadian Gabriel Diallo.
"It's very difficult to play here, I feel like the ball is flying, it's very fast," the Italian told Tennis Channel after closing out the match in 59 minutes.
"So when you lose confidence with a couple of shots, it makes it very, very difficult to play."
In other results, Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech upset Norwegian 11th seed Casper Ruud 6-7 (5-7) 6-4 6-2, while eighth-seeded Italian Lorenzo Musetti lost to France's Benjamin Bonzi 5-7 6-4 7-6 (7-4).
Australian interest will be ramped up on Sunday (Monday AEST), with three Aussies to play their second-round matches.
Leading the way will be sixth seed Alex de Minaur, who has been in scintillating form in the lead-up to this month's US Open.
De Minaur recently clinched his 10th career title by winning the Washington Open, which he followed with a quarter-final showing at the Canadian Open in Toronto.
His impressive form has given him an ATP Tour-leading 24 hard-court wins for the season.
De Minaur opens his Cincinnati campaign with literally the tallest order in men's tennis, towering 211cm American Reilly Opelka, who has one of the most blistering serves on tour.
Another Aussie in action will be 21st seed Alexei Popyrin, who also reached the quarter-finals in Canada.
Popyrin takes on Spaniard Martin Landaluce, the former world No.1 junior.
Rounding out the Australian challenge is Adam Walton, who faces the daunting prospect of taking on 12th-seeded Russian Daniil Medvedev, a former world No.1 and the 2021 US Open winner.
The Aussie trio will be out to break a long-standing drought in Cincinnati, where no Australian man has claimed the title since Pat Rafter 27 years ago.
The Cincinnati Open is a key lead-up to the year's final major, the US Open, played on the hard courts at Flushing Meadows in New York from August 24.
- with AAP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Perth Now
an hour ago
- Perth Now
Lanning's assault on Aussies sets up Invincibles win
It is a rare experience for Australian bowlers to be clouted to all parts in the women's game, but if anyone can do it it's former captain Meg Lanning. The veteran played the leading role as Oval Invincibles smashed the best powerplay score in the five-year history of the Hundred Women, cracking 54 in 25 balls, the first 50 of which came from 20 balls bowled by a trio of Aussies. That set Invincibles up for a 100-ball score of 5-174, the third highest in Hundred history, and Birmingham Phoenix never looked like matching it. Georgia Voll gave them brief hope with a scintillating start, making 22 off 15 balls, but was caught at midwicket with a juggling catch by compatriot Amanda Jade-Wellington. Ellyse Perry hit her first two balls for four but she had come to the crease with Phoenix 2-31 needing a very demanding 144 off 74. The allrounder had just reached 29 off 16 balls by launching Jade-Wellington for six, but was caught behind next ball trying to cut. Six balls later Jade-Wellington brilliantly ran out Emma Lamb (25) and at 4-83, with 59 balls gone, the game was done. Jade-Wellington finished with 2-27 off her 20 balls as the visitors won by 22 runs at Edgbaston, Phoenix closing on 6-152. Phoenix had opened up on Tuesday (local time) with a trio of Australians, Megan Schutt, skipper Perry and Voll, and Lanning tucked into them with English opening partner Lauren Wingfield-HIll. A super shot by Meg Lanning! 🙇#TheHundred The Hundred (@thehundred) August 12, 2025 Meg Lanning launches a free hit from Georgia Voll for six All three bowlers took punishment at a rate of more than 10-an-over, not helped by each conceding extras. Perry used seven bowlers to try and stem the flow, but only spinner Hannah Baker had any effect, dismissing both openers as she took 2-24 in her 20, by far the best economy rate. Lanning was caught at deep midwicket by Lamb for a 19-ball 36, then Wingfield-Hill was taken by Perry at mid-off for 33 off 27. Meg Lanning is currently leading the way in #TheHundred Women's Competition with 177 runs! 😎 The Hundred (@thehundred) August 12, 2025 Meg Lanning has overtaken Grace Harris as this year's highest Hundred Women scorer. However, Alice Capsey had come in with the platform set and the big-hitting England batter, dropped on 21, thumped 52 off 29 balls. "The openers were brilliant," said Capsey. "One of our reflections after the first two games was that we bat so deep we can take some more calculated risks. "They took the game on so nicely and it made my job pretty easy." When she was out there were two balls left, Jade-Wellington was caught trying to hit the first for four, Ash Gardner then came in and hit her only ball to the boundary. Perry finished with 0-34 off 20 balls, Schutt 1-34 off her 20, and Voll's only five-ball set went for 20. "It was a little bit tough today," Perry told BBC. "We probably let up a few too many runs in the field, particularly in the powerplay. They batted really well as well, so you have to appreciate that. I thought we put up a pretty valiant chase and it was nice that we hung in there at the end."
West Australian
an hour ago
- West Australian
Lanning's assault on Aussies sets up Invincibles win
It is a rare experience for Australian bowlers to be clouted to all parts in the women's game, but if anyone can do it it's former captain Meg Lanning. The veteran played the leading role as Oval Invincibles smashed the best powerplay score in the five-year history of the Hundred Women, cracking 54 in 25 balls, the first 50 of which came from 20 balls bowled by a trio of Aussies. That set Invincibles up for a 100-ball score of 5-174, the third highest in Hundred history, and Birmingham Phoenix never looked like matching it. Georgia Voll gave them brief hope with a scintillating start, making 22 off 15 balls, but was caught at midwicket with a juggling catch by compatriot Amanda Jade-Wellington. Ellyse Perry hit her first two balls for four but she had come to the crease with Phoenix 2-31 needing a very demanding 144 off 74. The allrounder had just reached 29 off 16 balls by launching Jade-Wellington for six, but was caught behind next ball trying to cut. Six balls later Jade-Wellington brilliantly ran out Emma Lamb (25) and at 4-83, with 59 balls gone, the game was done. Jade-Wellington finished with 2-27 off her 20 balls as the visitors won by 22 runs at Edgbaston, Phoenix closing on 6-152. Phoenix had opened up on Tuesday (local time) with a trio of Australians, Megan Schutt, skipper Perry and Voll, and Lanning tucked into them with English opening partner Lauren Wingfield-HIll. Meg Lanning launches a free hit from Georgia Voll for six All three bowlers took punishment at a rate of more than 10-an-over, not helped by each conceding extras. Perry used seven bowlers to try and stem the flow, but only spinner Hannah Baker had any effect, dismissing both openers as she took 2-24 in her 20, by far the best economy rate. Lanning was caught at deep midwicket by Lamb for a 19-ball 36, then Wingfield-Hill was taken by Perry at mid-off for 33 off 27. Meg Lanning has overtaken Grace Harris as this year's highest Hundred Women scorer. However, Alice Capsey had come in with the platform set and the big-hitting England batter, dropped on 21, thumped 52 off 29 balls. "The openers were brilliant," said Capsey. "One of our reflections after the first two games was that we bat so deep we can take some more calculated risks. "They took the game on so nicely and it made my job pretty easy." When she was out there were two balls left, Jade-Wellington was caught trying to hit the first for four, Ash Gardner then came in and hit her only ball to the boundary. Perry finished with 0-34 off 20 balls, Schutt 1-34 off her 20, and Voll's only five-ball set went for 20. "It was a little bit tough today," Perry told BBC. "We probably let up a few too many runs in the field, particularly in the powerplay. They batted really well as well, so you have to appreciate that. I thought we put up a pretty valiant chase and it was nice that we hung in there at the end."
The Advertiser
4 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Seles reveals her diagnosis with myasthenia gravis
Former tennis superstar Monica Seles has discussed for the first time her diagnosis of her autoimmune disease - myasthenia gravis. The nine-time grand slam winner and former world No.1 first noticed the symptoms of the neuromuscular disease while she was swinging a racket. "I would be playing with some kids or family members, and I would miss a ball. I was like, 'Yeah, I see two balls.' These are obviously symptoms that you can't ignore," Seles said. "And, for me, this is when this journey started. And it took me quite some time to really absorb it, speak openly about it, because it's a difficult one. It affects my day-to-day life quite a lot." The 51-year-old Seles, who won her first major trophy at age 16 at the 1990 French Open and played her last match in 2003, said she was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis three years ago and is speaking publicly about it for the first time ahead of the US Open, which starts on August 24, to raise awareness about what is known as MG. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke calls it "a chronic neuromuscular disease that causes weakness in the voluntary muscles" and "most commonly impacts young adult women (under 40) and older men (over 60) but ... can occur at any age, including childhood." The Tennis Hall of Famer said she'd never heard of the condition until seeing a doctor and being referred to a neurologist after noticing symptoms such as double vision and weakness in her arms - "just blowing my hair out ... became very difficult," she said - and legs. "When I got diagnosed, I was like, 'What?!'" said Seles, who is partnering with argenx, an immunology company headquartered in the Netherlands, to promote their Go for Greater campaign. "So this is where - I can't emphasise enough - I wish I had somebody like me speak up about it." It's been three decades since Seles returned to competition at the 1995 US Open, making it to the final, more than two years after she was attacked by a man with a knife at a tournament in Hamburg, Germany. "The way they welcomed me ... after my stabbing, I will never forget," Seles said about the fans in New York. "Those are the moments that stay with you." She talks about learning to live a "new normal" nowadays and characterised her health as another in a series of life steps that required adapting. "I had to, in tennis terms, I guess, reset - hard reset - a few times. I call my first hard reset when I came to the US as a young 13-year-old (from Yugoslavia). Didn't speak the language; left my family. It's a very tough time. Then, obviously, becoming a great player, it's a reset, too, because the fame, money, the attention, changes (everything), and it's hard as a 16-year-old to deal with all that. Then obviously my stabbing - I had to do a huge reset," Seles said. "And then, really, being diagnosed with myasthenia gravis: another reset. But one thing, as I tell kids that I mentor: 'You've got to always adjust. That ball is bouncing, and you've just got to adjust,'" she added. "And that's what I'm doing now." Former tennis superstar Monica Seles has discussed for the first time her diagnosis of her autoimmune disease - myasthenia gravis. The nine-time grand slam winner and former world No.1 first noticed the symptoms of the neuromuscular disease while she was swinging a racket. "I would be playing with some kids or family members, and I would miss a ball. I was like, 'Yeah, I see two balls.' These are obviously symptoms that you can't ignore," Seles said. "And, for me, this is when this journey started. And it took me quite some time to really absorb it, speak openly about it, because it's a difficult one. It affects my day-to-day life quite a lot." The 51-year-old Seles, who won her first major trophy at age 16 at the 1990 French Open and played her last match in 2003, said she was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis three years ago and is speaking publicly about it for the first time ahead of the US Open, which starts on August 24, to raise awareness about what is known as MG. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke calls it "a chronic neuromuscular disease that causes weakness in the voluntary muscles" and "most commonly impacts young adult women (under 40) and older men (over 60) but ... can occur at any age, including childhood." The Tennis Hall of Famer said she'd never heard of the condition until seeing a doctor and being referred to a neurologist after noticing symptoms such as double vision and weakness in her arms - "just blowing my hair out ... became very difficult," she said - and legs. "When I got diagnosed, I was like, 'What?!'" said Seles, who is partnering with argenx, an immunology company headquartered in the Netherlands, to promote their Go for Greater campaign. "So this is where - I can't emphasise enough - I wish I had somebody like me speak up about it." It's been three decades since Seles returned to competition at the 1995 US Open, making it to the final, more than two years after she was attacked by a man with a knife at a tournament in Hamburg, Germany. "The way they welcomed me ... after my stabbing, I will never forget," Seles said about the fans in New York. "Those are the moments that stay with you." She talks about learning to live a "new normal" nowadays and characterised her health as another in a series of life steps that required adapting. "I had to, in tennis terms, I guess, reset - hard reset - a few times. I call my first hard reset when I came to the US as a young 13-year-old (from Yugoslavia). Didn't speak the language; left my family. It's a very tough time. Then, obviously, becoming a great player, it's a reset, too, because the fame, money, the attention, changes (everything), and it's hard as a 16-year-old to deal with all that. Then obviously my stabbing - I had to do a huge reset," Seles said. "And then, really, being diagnosed with myasthenia gravis: another reset. But one thing, as I tell kids that I mentor: 'You've got to always adjust. That ball is bouncing, and you've just got to adjust,'" she added. "And that's what I'm doing now." Former tennis superstar Monica Seles has discussed for the first time her diagnosis of her autoimmune disease - myasthenia gravis. The nine-time grand slam winner and former world No.1 first noticed the symptoms of the neuromuscular disease while she was swinging a racket. "I would be playing with some kids or family members, and I would miss a ball. I was like, 'Yeah, I see two balls.' These are obviously symptoms that you can't ignore," Seles said. "And, for me, this is when this journey started. And it took me quite some time to really absorb it, speak openly about it, because it's a difficult one. It affects my day-to-day life quite a lot." The 51-year-old Seles, who won her first major trophy at age 16 at the 1990 French Open and played her last match in 2003, said she was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis three years ago and is speaking publicly about it for the first time ahead of the US Open, which starts on August 24, to raise awareness about what is known as MG. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke calls it "a chronic neuromuscular disease that causes weakness in the voluntary muscles" and "most commonly impacts young adult women (under 40) and older men (over 60) but ... can occur at any age, including childhood." The Tennis Hall of Famer said she'd never heard of the condition until seeing a doctor and being referred to a neurologist after noticing symptoms such as double vision and weakness in her arms - "just blowing my hair out ... became very difficult," she said - and legs. "When I got diagnosed, I was like, 'What?!'" said Seles, who is partnering with argenx, an immunology company headquartered in the Netherlands, to promote their Go for Greater campaign. "So this is where - I can't emphasise enough - I wish I had somebody like me speak up about it." It's been three decades since Seles returned to competition at the 1995 US Open, making it to the final, more than two years after she was attacked by a man with a knife at a tournament in Hamburg, Germany. "The way they welcomed me ... after my stabbing, I will never forget," Seles said about the fans in New York. "Those are the moments that stay with you." She talks about learning to live a "new normal" nowadays and characterised her health as another in a series of life steps that required adapting. "I had to, in tennis terms, I guess, reset - hard reset - a few times. I call my first hard reset when I came to the US as a young 13-year-old (from Yugoslavia). Didn't speak the language; left my family. It's a very tough time. Then, obviously, becoming a great player, it's a reset, too, because the fame, money, the attention, changes (everything), and it's hard as a 16-year-old to deal with all that. Then obviously my stabbing - I had to do a huge reset," Seles said. "And then, really, being diagnosed with myasthenia gravis: another reset. But one thing, as I tell kids that I mentor: 'You've got to always adjust. That ball is bouncing, and you've just got to adjust,'" she added. "And that's what I'm doing now." Former tennis superstar Monica Seles has discussed for the first time her diagnosis of her autoimmune disease - myasthenia gravis. The nine-time grand slam winner and former world No.1 first noticed the symptoms of the neuromuscular disease while she was swinging a racket. "I would be playing with some kids or family members, and I would miss a ball. I was like, 'Yeah, I see two balls.' These are obviously symptoms that you can't ignore," Seles said. "And, for me, this is when this journey started. And it took me quite some time to really absorb it, speak openly about it, because it's a difficult one. It affects my day-to-day life quite a lot." The 51-year-old Seles, who won her first major trophy at age 16 at the 1990 French Open and played her last match in 2003, said she was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis three years ago and is speaking publicly about it for the first time ahead of the US Open, which starts on August 24, to raise awareness about what is known as MG. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke calls it "a chronic neuromuscular disease that causes weakness in the voluntary muscles" and "most commonly impacts young adult women (under 40) and older men (over 60) but ... can occur at any age, including childhood." The Tennis Hall of Famer said she'd never heard of the condition until seeing a doctor and being referred to a neurologist after noticing symptoms such as double vision and weakness in her arms - "just blowing my hair out ... became very difficult," she said - and legs. "When I got diagnosed, I was like, 'What?!'" said Seles, who is partnering with argenx, an immunology company headquartered in the Netherlands, to promote their Go for Greater campaign. "So this is where - I can't emphasise enough - I wish I had somebody like me speak up about it." It's been three decades since Seles returned to competition at the 1995 US Open, making it to the final, more than two years after she was attacked by a man with a knife at a tournament in Hamburg, Germany. "The way they welcomed me ... after my stabbing, I will never forget," Seles said about the fans in New York. "Those are the moments that stay with you." She talks about learning to live a "new normal" nowadays and characterised her health as another in a series of life steps that required adapting. "I had to, in tennis terms, I guess, reset - hard reset - a few times. I call my first hard reset when I came to the US as a young 13-year-old (from Yugoslavia). Didn't speak the language; left my family. It's a very tough time. Then, obviously, becoming a great player, it's a reset, too, because the fame, money, the attention, changes (everything), and it's hard as a 16-year-old to deal with all that. Then obviously my stabbing - I had to do a huge reset," Seles said. "And then, really, being diagnosed with myasthenia gravis: another reset. But one thing, as I tell kids that I mentor: 'You've got to always adjust. That ball is bouncing, and you've just got to adjust,'" she added. "And that's what I'm doing now."
