Stefanos Tsitsipas, Andrey Rublev win. Andy Murray bows out

Following the semi-final run in Toronto final week, Stefanos Tsitsipas made a successful begin in Cincinnati on Wednesday because of a 7-6, 6-3 conquer Sebastian Korda. The Greek misplaced solely 4 factors behind the primary serve and fended off each break possibilities to maintain the strain on the younger American.

Stefanos hit 21 winners and 12 unforced errors to interrupt the rival twice within the second set and advance into the subsequent spherical. Korda gave his greatest within the opener, losing these two break possibilities within the opening recreation and staying in contact with the better-ranked opponent till 5-5 within the tie break.

Stefanos positioned a forehand crosscourt winner within the eleventh level for a mini-break and grabbed the set following Sebastian’s backhand error within the subsequent one. From 3-2 down within the second set, Tsitsipas rattled off 4 straight video games to seal the deal and advance into the subsequent spherical.

The favorites made a robust begin in Cincinnati on Wednesday.

The 4th seed Andrey Rublev ousted the previous champion Marin Cilic 5-7, 6-3, 6-1 in two hours. Andrey misplaced serve as soon as and shifted into the next gear in units two and three to topple the rival and keep away from an early exit.

Cilic produced marvelous tennis behind the preliminary shot within the opening set, barely shedding some extent and delivering a late break for 7-5. Nonetheless, that was all we noticed from him, as Rublev took the higher hand on each serve and return in the remainder of the encounter for a spot within the third spherical.

One other former winner, Andy Murray, gave his greatest in opposition to the Wimbledon semi-finalist Hubert Hurkacz earlier than falling 7-6, 6-3. They traded breaks in the midst of the opening set, and the Briton had a large likelihood to seize the set at 5-4, solely to waste two set factors.

Hubert claimed the breaker 7-4 with an ace and broke Andy at 4-3 in set quantity two earlier than sealing the deal on his serve in recreation 9. Grigor Dimitrov, one other participant with the Cincinnati crown on his tally, defeated Alexander Bublik 6-3, 7-5 in an hour and 23 minutes.

Dimitrov misplaced serve as soon as and erased that with three return video games by his identify, standing targeted within the second set’s closing phases for a superb end result after 4 straight Masters 1000 losses.