Alcaraz survives tough Cincinnati opener despite erratic performance
The Spaniard dominated the first set but struggled in the second, losing his serve twice against the Bosnian veteran.
Alcaraz regained control in the decider, sealing victory with his seventh ace to advance to the third round.
'It was a relief to get this win,' said Alcaraz, who committed 44 unforced errors.
The second seed extended his Masters 1000 winning streak to 12 matches after triumphs in Monte Carlo and Rome earlier this year.
Alcaraz acknowledged the challenges of adapting to Cincinnati's fast conditions.
'The ball really flies and goes super fast here,' he said.
Sixth seed Alex de Minaur suffered a surprise exit, falling 7-6(6), 6-4 to American Reilly Opelka, who fired 14 aces.
In the women's draw, Coco Gauff overcame a shaky start to defeat China's Wang Xinyu 6-3, 6-2.
The 2023 Cincinnati champion steadied herself after a first set featuring five service breaks.
Third seed Jessica Pegula progressed with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Kimberly Birrell.
Jasmine Paolini edged Maria Sakkari 7-6(2), 7-6(5) in a tense encounter, saving five match points before advancing.
Olympic champion Belinda Bencic fell to Veronika Kudermetova, while eighth seed Emma Navarro lost to qualifier Ella Seidel. - AFP
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New Straits Times
19 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
Sabalenka and Gauff crash out in Cincinnati as Alcaraz survives to reach semis
CINCINNATI: World number one Aryna Sabalenka and second-ranked Coco Gauff were sent crashing out of the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Open on Friday as Carlos Alcaraz fought off a fierce challenge from Andrey Rublev to reach the semi-finals. Top seed and defending champion Sabalenka had no answer for Elena Rybakina, falling to the 2022 Wimbledon champion 6-1, 6-4. Reigning French Open champion Gauff had 16 double faults in a 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 exit at the hands of seventh-seeded Italian Jasmine Paolini. Spain's second-ranked Alcaraz had his difficulties, but he broke Rublev in the final game of a tense duel to emerge a 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 winner and will face third-seeded Alexander Zverev, who brought fifth-seeded Toronto champion Ben Shelton's run to an end with a 6-2, 6-2 victory. Zverev earned a 4-1 lead in the second set as Shelton angrily tossed his racquet on the changeover, and the 2021 champion polished off the win on a second match point. He now has 24 hours to try to get fit. "I'm not feeling too great now, but I have a day to get fresh," Zverev said. "I hope to be at 100%. "I'm not sure what happened. I felt very well, but at the end of the first set, it got progressively worse. But I'll do all I can to give it a shot tomorrow." Alcaraz was broken while serving for victory at 5-4 in the final set against 11th-ranked Rublev, but he found his focus and used his trademark grit to come through three games later. He sealed the triumph as an emotional Rublev hit an eighth double-fault on match point. "I maintained the positive thoughts even if I lost focus a bit in the second set," said Alcaraz, whose five titles so far this year include the French Open as well as Masters 1000 trophies in Monte Carlo and Rome. Rybakina fired 11 aces en route to a fifth career victory over Sabalenka in 12 meetings. She avenged a loss to the Belarusian in Berlin two months ago and booked a semi-final meeting with Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek – a 6-3, 6-4 winner over Anna Kalinskaya. Rybakina was aided by 11 aces as she reached her first Cincinnati semi-final. "I'm happy with the serve. It was the key today," Rybakina said. "I served really well." "If she had been serving well, it would have been a totally different match," she acknowledged. Rybakina has won her last three matches against Swiatek, all played this season. But Swiatek was feeling confident after downing Kalinskaya in what she called "the best match I played here." "I'm happy that I'm progressing during the tournament," Swiatek said. Gauff, the 2023 Cincinnati champion, had looked well on her way after a quick first set against Paolini. But her mistakes caught up with her as she was broken eight times by the Italian, who overcame plenty of errors of her own as well as a twisted ankle suffered early in the third set. "It was so tough at the start, I was running and trying to put the ball inside the court," Paolini said. "I started to feel the ball better." "I fought for every point and stayed in the match," added the Italian, who will face Veronika Kudermetova for a place in the final.
Malay Mail
3 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Alcaraz survives to reach Cincy semis as Rybakina topples No. 1 Sabalenka
CINCINNATI, Aug 16 — World number two Carlos Alcaraz fought off a fierce challenge from Andrey Rublev to reach the semi-finals of the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Open yesterday as women's defending champion Aryna Sabalenka was sent crashing by Elena Rybakina. Spain's Alcaraz broke Rublev in the final game of a tense duel to emerge a 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 winner and will face third-seeded Alexander Zverev, who brought the winning run of fifth-seeded Toronto champion American Ben Shelton to its end with a 6-2, 6-2 victory. Germany's Zverev complained of feeling dizzy and out of breath as he led by a set and a break, but benefitted from 27 unforced errors from a listless Shelton over 76 minutes. Zverev earned a 4-1 lead in the second set as Sheldon angrily tossed his racquet on the changeover, and the 2021 champion polished off the win on a second match point and now has 24 hours to try and get fit. 'I'm not feeling too great now, but I have a day to get fresh,' Zverev said. 'I hope to be at 100%. 'I'm not sure what happened. I felt very well but at the end of the first set it got progressively worse. 'But I'll do all I can to give it a shot tomorrow.' Alcaraz was broken while serving for victory at 5-4 in the final set against 11th-ranked Rublev, but he found his focus and used his trademark grit to come through three games later. He sealed the triumph as an emotional Rublev hit an eighth double-fault on match point. 'I maintained the positive thoughts even if I lost focus a bit in the second set,' said Alcaraz, whose five titles so far this year include the French Open as well as Masters 1000 trophies in Monte Carlo and Rome. 'Against Andrey, if you lose focus it can cost you the set—or the match... (Fighting back) is what I'm most proud of.' Rybakina revenge Top seeded Sabalenka had no answer for 2022 Wimbledon champion Rybakina, who beat the Belarusian 6-1, 6-4 to book a semi-final meeting with Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek—a 6-3, 6-4 winner over Anna Kalinskaya. Rybakina claimed a fifth victory in her 12-match personal rivalry with Sabalenka, avenging a loss to the Belarusian in Berlin two months ago. Rybakina was aided by 11 aces as she reached her first Cincinnati semi-final. 'I'm happy with the serve. It was the key today,' Rybakina said. 'I served really well. 'If she had been serving well it would have been a totally different match,' she acknowledged. Rybakina has won her last three matches against Swiatek, all played this season. Swiatek needed 93 minutes and five match points to get past Kalinskaya in what she called 'the best match I played here. 'I'm happy that I'm progressing during the tournament,' said the former world number one from Poland. I just played my game,' she said. 'It was not easy but I'm happy that I stayed solid and kept my intensity,' In other quarter-final action, Veronika Kudermetova crushed Varvara Gracheva 6-1, 6-2 and awaits the winner of Friday night's match between world number two Coco Gauff and ninth-ranked Jasmine Paolini. — AFP
The Sun
6 hours ago
- The Sun
Sinner dominates Cincinnati Open
DEFENDING champion Jannik Sinner cruised past Felix Auger-Aliassime with a commanding 6-0 6-2 victory in the Cincinnati Open quarter-finals. The world number one extended his hardcourt winning streak to 25 matches, capitalising on Auger-Aliassime's 29 unforced errors. 'Today I felt great on court,' Sinner said. 'Every day is going to be different, but we will prepare for the semis.' The Italian became only the fifth man this century to achieve 25 consecutive hardcourt wins, joining Djokovic, Nadal, Federer, and Murray. He will next face French qualifier Terence Atmane, who stunned seventh seed Holger Rune 6-2 6-3. 'I cannot believe it,' Atmane said. 'Breaking into the Top 100 and reaching a Masters 1000 semi-final means everything.' Canadian Open champion Ben Shelton advanced to the quarter-finals with a 6-4 6-4 win over Jiri Lehecka. 'I'm hungry and in a good rhythm,' Shelton said. 'I want to prove myself every match.' Shelton will now face German third seed Alexander Zverev. In the women's draw, Coco Gauff secured a 6-2 6-4 win over Lucia Bronzetti. 'I played aggressive but had to adjust to the light balls,' Gauff said. The American will next meet Jasmine Paolini, who defeated Barbora Krejcikova in a Wimbledon final rematch. - Reuters
