Tommy Paul triumphs in all-American clash with Jenson Brooksby to kick off Cincy campaign

Information technology was smooth sailing for the seeded competitors in activeness on Wednesday at the Atlanta Open, with Tommy Paul, Frances Tiafoe and Brandon Nakashima all advancing in straight sets.

5th seed Paul started the twenty-four hour period off with a straightforward 6-three 6-3 win against South Korea'southward Kwon Presently-woo thank you to a clear advantage with his serving. He won 73 per cent (36-of-49) of his points on serve, while Kwon could only muster 53 per cent (34-of-64).

Paul volition run into Belarus' Ilya Ivashka in the quarter-finals later on he successfully navigated the challenge of America's Steve Johnson iv-6 6-2 half dozen-4 after Johnson was a tardily injury replacement for peak overall seed Reilly Opelka.

Ivashka is now 6-3 in his nine matches since the French Open, with his just losses against top-v talents Stefano Tsitsipas and twice confronting Daniil Medvedev.

Fourth seed Tiafoe was impressive against Japan's Taro Daniel, creating viii full break betoken opportunities, and capitalising on three.

Tiafoe volition play Nakashima in the quarter-finals, with the American surviving a tough outset set tiebreaker to eventually defeat Australia's John Millman 7-six (10-8) 6-4.

In a closely contested friction match, Nakashima avoided getting into many sticky situations, saving the just pause point he faced.

Andrey Rublev was a surprise first-round loser at the Halle Open up, while numerous seeds fell on the first day of the Queen'due south Club Championships.

Rublev came unstuck against Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili, succumbing to a 7-half-dozen (7-1) 6-4 loss every bit the world number eight crashed out in Frg.

Laslo Djere progressed after Henri Squire retired when four-three down, while sixth seed Pablo Carreno Busta secured a six-iii 7-6 (7-5) over French Open quarter-finalist Holger Rune.

Ugo Humber got the better of a topsy-turvy affair against qualifier Radu Albot, eventually triumphing 6-seven (iv-7) 7-vi (7-iv) 7-five and Mackenzie McDonald defeated Marc-Andrea Huesler in straight sets.

Fourth favourite Taylor Fritz went down vi-three vi-3 confronting British wildcard Jack Draper, his first career win against a top-twenty ranked player.

Reilly Opelka, the eighth seed, crashed out in the first round to New Zealand's Alex de Minaur, who claimed a straightforward 6-4 6-4 win.

Grigor Dimitrov, who won the event in 2014, battled past third seed Cameron Norrie six-vii (2-vii) 6-1 6-four, while Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina eased past compatriot Albert Ramos-Vinolas 7-5 6-iv.

Alexander Bublik was half dozen-iii up before Italian Lorenzo Musetti retired, while seventh seed Marin Cilic capped the day's play in London past beating home hope Liam Broady 6-1 4-half dozen vii-5.

Casper Ruud is one match away from successfully retaining his Geneva Open up title, while Cameron Norrie has a shot at redemption in Lyon.

Earth number nine Ruud was a 7-half-dozen (7-two) seven-5 winner against Reilly Opelka on Friday, putting him on the brink of a 2d ATP Tour crown of the flavor and a sixth in his by seven ATP 250 events on clay.

The Norwegian made the semi-finals at the Internazionali d'Italia last calendar week and maintained his momentum ahead of the French Open.

He converted the match'south only breakpoint in the penultimate game and sealed the deal in the next, dropping simply five of 46 points backside his first serve throughout.

Ruud will take on Joao Sousa – who was the runner-up to Thomaz Bellucci in Geneva vii years ago – in the terminal after the Portuguese defeated Richard Gasquet 6-2 6-ii.

Norrie volition also be hopeful of making upward for a past final defeat after winning his last-4 encounter with Holger Rune at the Lyon Open.

The Briton was a ready and a break up before Rune recovered to forcefulness a decider, which Norrie took for a half dozen-2 5-vii six-iv triumph in a little over two hours.

Norrie was beaten by Stefanos Tsitsipas in last year's terminal merely it is Alex Molcan who stands between him and the trophy this time around.

Molcan, who is however to win a Tour-level title, claimed an impressive victory 7-6 (7-2) half dozen-2 win over Alex de Minaur.

Casper Rudd set up upward a semi-final disharmonism with Reilly Opelka past claiming a directly-sets win over Thanasi Kokkinakis at the Geneva Open, while Cameron Norrie made his third semi-concluding of 2022 at the Lyon Open up.

World number eight Rudd, who claimed the title in Geneva final twelvemonth with a straight-sets final win over Denis Shapovalov, overcame Kokkinakis 6-4 7-vi (7-3) on Thursday and will now face Opelka.

The American bounced dorsum from losing the second set against Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor to claim a 6-4 3-6 6-3 win as he bids for his third championship of 2022, and second seed Ruud said he was excited to pit himself against Opelka later securing his spot in the semi-finals.

"I expect information technology to be tough," Ruud said. "But I will do my all-time and encounter how I can do. I always enjoy playing against Reilly. He is a like age to myself, and it volition be another battle against him – hopefully it will be a proficient one."

Elsewhere, iii-fourth dimension grand slam semi-finalist Richard Gasquet followed up his daze win over Daniil Medvedev with a 6-ii 6-4 victory over Kamil Majchrzak, and will face Joao Sousa for a place in the final after the Portuguese shell Ilya Ivashka 7-5 7-5.

At the Lyon Open up, top seed Norrie battled to a 6-four iv-half-dozen 7-5 win over Sebastian Baez, spurning three lucifer points earlier finally downing the Argentinian later a marathon ii hours and xl minutes clash.

The world number 11 will confront Holger Rune in his semi-last competition after the 19-year-erstwhile came from a set down to vanquish Manuel Guinard three-6 six-3 half dozen-4.

The other semi-last in France volition see fourth seed Alex de Minaur take on Alex Molcan afterwards the Australian's quarter-final opponent Yosuke Watanuki withdrew after losing the first set 6-4, citing a back issue.

Molcan, meanwhile, downed Federico Coria half-dozen-iii six-2 to reach the terminal four.

Reigning champion Casper Ruud made a winning start to his Geneva Open up title defense after defeating Benoit Paire in direct sets on Wednesday.

The world number eight triumphed in Switzerland 12 months agone with victory over Denis Shapovalov in the concluding, claiming the commencement of five ATP titles he won during an impressive campaign.

Fresh from reaching the semi-finals in Rome, the Norwegian – also a winner in Buenos Aires and a Miami runner-up this season – made a dominant start.

Although he was cleaved in game three of the opening set, Ruud responded immediately and a farther iv breaks wrapped up a commanding 6-iii 6-ane victory in just 55 minutes.

Meanwhile, Reilly Opelka registered his kickoff win on European clay this season equally he saw off Christopher O'Connell.

Despite triumphing in Dallas and Houston earlier this year, Opelka has suffered first-round exits in Munich, Madrid and Rome since the latter.

However, the fourth seed was in fine course in Geneva, hitting thirteen aces on the way to defeating the Australian qualifier.

Even so, there was no joy for 2021 runner-upwardly Shapovalov every bit the third seed crashed out 6-4 6-7(2) 6-3 to Ilya Ivashka.

5th seed Nikoloz Basilashvili fell 6-four vi-3 at the hands of 2015 finalist Joao Sousa, who progresses beyond circular 2 for the first time since reaching the Championship friction match seven years ago.

There were more surprise defeats in Lyon, where second seed Pablo Carreno Busta was beaten vii-5 6-3 by Federico Coria.

Later on taking a shut opening set, the world number 59 rallied from 3-1 down in the 2nd to attain his fourth quarter-final of the flavor on dirt.

Karen Khachanov also bowed out to Marrakech runner-upward Alex Molcan 6-2 7-6(4), while Munich champion Holger Rune built on his momentum with a half dozen-4 6-3 victory over Adrian Mannarino.

Stan Wawrinka said he was "feeling bully" after securing his starting time win in 15 months past downing 14th seed Reilly Opelka at the Internazionali d'Italian republic.

The three-time grand slam winner made his tour return last month subsequently requiring two surgeries on a left foot injury, but rallied later on losing his outset set against Opelka to secure a memorable 3-6 7-five 6-ii offset-round victory.

Speaking subsequently booking a second-round coming together with Laslo Djere, who beat Borna Coric six-2 6-7 (3-7) six-two, Wawrinka said his desire to play at the peak level never left him, despite his injury woes.

"I recollect in general I was feeling good on the court, physically I was feeling cracking," he said. "For certain, when you don't win a match in more than a twelvemonth, you showtime to think about it more than yous should and not focus on the right things.

"In general, I think information technology was a neat match, a slap-up battle. I stayed positive. I started to feel much better with my tennis by the end of the second set, and in the third prepare. I'm really happy with this victory.

"After 2 surgeries, at my age I could easily have stopped playing considering my career is style better than what I expected when I was young.

"But I still have this fire in me. I still believe that I can play dandy tennis. I still believe that I brand some big results, perchance not now, but in a few months."

Fellow sometime chiliad slam champion Dominic Thiem, who also returned from a long injury-enforced absence last month, fared less well, going down in straight sets to Fabio Fognini.

Having lost to Andy Murray at the Madrid Open last time out, 2020 U.s.a. Open up winner Thiem is however chasing his showtime victory of the year after losing half-dozen-4 vii-vi (seven-v) to the 34-year-old Italian.

Elsewhere, 13th seed Denis Shapovalov edged an epic iii-hour contest confronting Italy's Lorenzo Sonego vii-6 (7-v) three-6 6-three, responding later on being handed a game penalty for shouting expletives at a partisan crowd in Rome during the 2d gear up.

The frustrated Canadian was heard to tell spectators: "Close the f*** up" when beingness booed after complaining well-nigh a second serve existence chosen out past the umpire, just eventually regained his sophistication to claim a 3-set win.

Shapovalov volition face Georgia's earth number 25 Nikoloz Basilashvili in the second round afterwards he overcame Daniel Evans seven-6 (7-two) six-2, while the merely other seed to play on Monday, Kingdom of spain's Pablo Carreno Busta, cruised to a half-dozen-3 6-2 victory over Federico Delbonis.

The fit-again Stan Wawrinka secured a first win in 15 months by defeating Reilly Opelka at the Internazionali d'Italian republic on Monday.

Three-fourth dimension grand slam champion Wawrinka, whose nigh recent major success came at the 2016 United states of america Open, was competing in just his second ATP Tour match in 14 months after recovering from a pes injury just battled by American Opelka 3-6 7-5 half-dozen-2 in Rome.

Opelka seemed to concord the initiative after dominating the first set and boasting a iv-ii advantage in the second, only the 37-year-old Swiss recovered well to fight back against the world number 17.

Wawrinka managed to release his heavy-hitting forehand and close the court by nearer to the net, with Opelka providing no response as the former world number 3 triumphed in two hours and five minutes.

Laslo Djere or Borna Coric will be the second-circular opponent for Wawrinka, who registered his showtime tour-level win since Feb 2021.

Before defeating Opelka, Wawrinka had non won a match since he defeated Pedro Sousa at the Australian Open up terminal season.

His only other ATP Tour lucifer since and so ended in defeat to Alexander Bublik in Monte Carlo terminal calendar month.

American Reilly Opelka defeated compatriot John Isner 6-iii seven-6 (9-vii) to win a history-making concluding of the Us Men's Clay Courtroom Championships in Houston.

In a clash between ii of the tour'due south elite servers, and ii of the tallest men to always play professional tennis, intermission points were hard to come by, and even harder to convert, as Opelka saved all eight opportunities he faced, while Isner saved 4 out of five.

That i suspension decided the showtime fix, as 6ft 10in Isner fought back from 40-0 down to strength deuce, simply the fourth intermission point of the game was converted by 6ft 11in rival Opelka.

The ATP said their respective heights made it the tallest tour final in the Open up Era.

In a match that was always likely to be decided past whoever served best, Opelka had five aces to Isner'due south ii in the first set, while Isner likewise had the only double error.

Isner was much stronger in the second set, creating 7 break-point opportunities, but he just could not win the of import points every bit Opelka'due south serve repeatedly got him out of trouble.

Isner then had 3 opportunities at set point in the tie-break to force a decider, only it was Opelka's day, as he saved all three and converted his first hazard at match signal.

Later on dropping a prepare in his commencement-round match against Mitchell Krueger, Opelka was perfect the remainder of the tournament, beating Gijs Brouwer and Nick Kyrgios in direct sets on his manner to the final.

Reilly Opelka and John Isner will meet in the US Men's Clay Courtroom Title concluding in Houston, after they claimed semi-last wins on Sat.

Opelka kept upwards his stiff early-season form with an imposing vi-3 seven-v victory over Nick Kyrgios in the first semi-final, getting the job done in just i hour and nine minutes.

Opelka slung downward 18 aces to 11 from Kyrgios and faced just one pause point across the contest.

The 24-yr-old Opelka won a title in Dallas in February and followed upward with a run to the Delray Beach terminal, with a third bays lucifer of the flavor now awaiting him.

The American earth number eighteen said he admired the "intangibles" from Kyrgios that "you tin can't teach."

"He's got one of the all-time serves in the world and when he turns it on he can come up up with some shots that non many guys outside the top x can," Opelka said in his on-courtroom interview.

Opelka enjoyed the high-tempo match with Kyrgios, who typically wastes no time between points.

"I prefer to play at that speed rather than, for case, Rafa [Nadal] where it's l-55 seconds between points," Opelka said.

"It'south a totally dissimilar speed hither and I thought I did a good job managing the whole tempo of the match. I put a lot of returns into play and I came upwards big with my second serve."

He volition face 2013 Houston champion Isner, who came from a set down to defeat defending champion Cristian Garin 4-6 6-three 6-four.

The 36-year-sometime'southward serve improved as the lucifer went on and ultimately propelled him to victory, facing four break points in the opening prepare, ane in the 2d and none in the decider.

Isner too served 17 aces on his way to the final, and won 80 per cent of points on his first serve.

"Information technology'due south never like shooting fish in a barrel when you take to come back from one set down," he said. "My serve certainly helped me out a lot. I didn't have to hit too many balls at that place in the end, and I didn't desire to.

"I'm then happy to exist in the terminal again here. At my historic period you lot never actually know when you lot tin can get back to a final of a tournament like this."

World number xviii Reilly Opelka is through to the semi-final of the U.s. Men'due south Clay Court Championships in Houston after defeating qualifier Gijs Brouwer half-dozen-iii vii-5.

The giant American, who measures in at half dozen-foot-eleven, was terrific in the opening set, winning 84 per cent of his successful outset serves (16-nineteen) and allowing no break point opportunities.

The 2nd set was much more competitive, as Brouwer broke offset to go up three-ane, but Opelka answered instantly and so grabbed the friction match-winning pause when vi-5 upwards to avoid a necktie-breaker.

Opelka volition face a fresh Nick Kyrgios in the semi-final after the Australian was gifted a walkover win against Michael Mmoh due to injury.

In a clash betwixt two summit-5 seeds, world number 29 Christian Garin got the improve of world number thirteen Taylor Fritz half dozen-ii 6-seven (5-7) half-dozen-3.

What made Garin successful in the first and third sets was his return game, winning more half of his return points in those sets combined (26-51).

Fritz had chances to go back into the game, but Garin saved eleven of 14 interruption point opportunities, including half-dozen of seven in the deciding third prepare.

Garin will play American John Isner in the semi-final afterwards Isner triumphed in a three-fix battle against Frances Tiafoe 6-four 2-6 half dozen-3.

Isner'south trademark serve was inconsistent, and abandoned him in a grim second-set functioning, winning just 11 of 21 service points on his way to getting broken twice to allow Tiafoe to strength the match into a third frame.

In Isner'due south two successful sets, he won more than fourscore per cent of his showtime serves (35-41), and allowed no break betoken opportunities in the third.

Nick Kyrgios connected his strong return to clay courts on Midweek, defeating Tommy Paul 6-four 6-2 to progress to the quarter-finals of the U.s.a. Men's Clay Court Championships in Houston.

Earlier Tuesday's victory over Mackenzie McDonald, Kyrgios had non played on clay since his infamous meltdown against Casper Ruud at the Rome Masters in 2019, where he threw a chair across the court and walked off during a alter of ends.

The 26-yr-old Australian wild card'southward serve kept him in relative control, saving all six pause points he faced in the 70-minute match, likewise as serving 10 aces and winning 88 per cent of points on his first serve.

"I had to be locked in today and I knew that I had to serve well," Kyrgios said mail-match. "It'due south probably one of the better matches I've played on clay in my career, so I'm pretty happy with the way I came out hither today, just put my caput downwards and went to work.

"I've been serving really well, so I simply wanted to keep to skillful habits."

The world number 94 will now face Michael Mmoh, who defeated Sam Querrey half-dozen-2 6-4.

Meanwhile, tertiary seed Reilly Opelka did information technology relatively tougher in the other all-American clash on Wednesday, coming back from a set down to defeat Mitchell Kreuger 3-6 6-2 6-4.

Opelka came into the friction match having lost only 13 service games in 19 matches this flavour, simply was cleaved twice in the opening prepare against Krueger. The world number eighteen has been dealing with a right shoulder injury that forced him to retire at the Miami Open against Francisco Cerundolo.

The 24-year-sometime withal managed 15 aces for the lucifer, including a big serve out broad in the Advertising courtroom on lucifer point.

"He played well, I remember he came out swinging," Opelka said later on. "I think he was free, I wasn't. It's a unlike situation.

"It was a good opportunity for him to play costless and get a win and I'm a guy who hasn't always been the near consistent, particularly changing surfaces, and then I think it was a good win."

He will face Gijs Brouwer, who progressed past J.J. Wolf with a 6-1 six-1 win.

Rafael Nadal did it tough against Reilly Opelka on Wednesday, eventually winning his way through to the quarter-finals at the Indian Wells Masters.

Nadal displayed an affluence of tactical nous, nullifying the American's big striking and service game to emerge the seven-six(half-dozen-3) 7-6(7-5) winner.

Along with a 76 per centum kickoff-serve rate, Opelka hit more winners with 26 for the match, but the 35-year-old Spaniard was able to grind out points from the baseline with his trademark heavy topspin. As a issue, Nadal'south winner/unforced mistake differential was +fourteen in comparison to Opelka's +1.

"He is one of the toughest opponents on tour," Nadal said postal service-match. "It is very tough to control his weapons with his serve and forehand.

"I think I played my best match of the tournament and then far today. I am very pleased with how I was able to win the match, with 2 hard tie-breaks. This victory means a lot to me."

The highest ranked player left in the draw, Nadal will now face Nick Kyrgios, who progressed to the quarter-finals after Jannik Sinner withdrew with illness.

Matteo Berrettini made a shock go out, meanwhile, losing half dozen-three 6-seven(5-7) 6-4 to unseeded Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic.

The Italian world number six was put nether abiding pressure level, with Kecmanovic targeting his backhand and hovered the baseline to close the angles on serve.

The 22-twelvemonth-old's only other top 10 victory came against Alexander Zverev, also the world number six then, at Cincinnati in 2019. He volition now face Taylor Fritz, who defeated Alex de Minaur three-vi 6-4 seven-6(7-5).

Also on Wednesday, Grigor Dimitrov edged past John Isner half dozen-iii 7-6(8-6). In his unique mode, the Bulgarian 33rd seed came upward with the shot of the 24-hour interval, flicking a forehand pass beyond the visibly stunned Isner.

He will face up Andrey Rublev, who defeated Hurbert Hurkacz seven-6(7-5) half-dozen-4. In Wed's other results, Carlos Alcaraz Garfia comfortably defeated Gael Monfils 7-v 6-one, while Cameron Norrie deemed for Jenson Brooksby 6-two half-dozen-4.

Teenage sensation Carlos Alcaraz made history every bit he defeated Diego Schwartzman in direct sets to claim the Rio Open championship.

The eighteen-twelvemonth-old became the youngest winner of an ATP 500 event since the creation of the category in 2009, clinching a half dozen-4 half-dozen-2 victory in one hour and 26 minutes.

Alcaraz, set to climb into the world's top 20 for the first fourth dimension, captured his 2d tour-level title after triumphing at concluding year's Croatia Open.

The Spaniard won five out of six break points, including a crucial ane at 4-4 on his way to taking the opening set.

Tertiary seed Schwartzman – champion in Rio in 2018 – was appearing in his second successive concluding, having reached the showpiece in Buenos Aires final week.

But the Argentinian was unable to compete with the powerful seventh seed on clay, the surface on which Alcaraz could do major damage in the coming years.

Meanwhile, Cameron Norrie landed his third ATP Tour title after beating Reilly Opelka 7-6 (7-1) seven-6 (7-iv) in the Delray Embankment Open showpiece.

Elevation seed Norrie had endured a torrid kickoff to the 2022 flavour, which began for him with iv successive defeats.

Meanwhile, Opelka was seeking a second title in as many weeks following his triumph at the Dallas Open.

The American had won six out of 6 tie-breaks on his style to victory in Dallas, and a farther 4 this week.

But despite the big-serving second seed hitting 25 aces against Norrie, taking his tournament tally to 81, and 46 winners, a full of 33 unforced errors proved costly.

Although he was denied all five opportunities to break as both sets went to a tie-intermission, Norrie'southward service game remained solid throughout and only seven unforced errors underlined his strong performance.

Spanish teenager Carlos Alcaraz secured a spot in the Rio Open final after knocking off top seed Matteo Berrettini followed by countryman Fabio Fognini on Saturday.

Several quarter-finals were squeezed into Saturday's schedule alongside evening semi-finals following Friday's ranout, forcing Alcaraz to play twice forth with Diego Schwartzman who likewise progressed to Sunday'south decider.

Alcaraz start defeated pinnacle seed and 2021 Wimbledon finalist Berrettini in iii sets, triumphing 6-two ii-6 6-2 in two hours and two minutes.

The 18-year-onetime Spanish 7th seed, who reached last year's US Open quarter-finals, backed that up with a straight-sets win over Fognini, 6-2 7-5.

"It means a lot to me," Alcaraz said post-match. "I surprised myself to be able to win two matches in a row in the same twenty-four hours. It's tough to win one match, two is even tougher."

Third seed Schwartzman got by fellow Argentine Francisco Cerundolo 7-vi (7-4) half dozen-3 in a two-hr-and-two-minute semi-last, having won through earlier in the day 7-6 (7-3) 4-6 half-dozen-iv against Pablo Andujar.

The summit two seeds will run into in the Delray Beach Open up final in Florida after wins by Cameron Norrie and Reilly Opelka on Saturday.

Commencement seed Norrie got by American quaternary seed Tommy Paul vi-iii half dozen-3 in one hour and 16 minutes. Norrie had endured a dull start to the agenda twelvemonth, but will now play for a third ATP Tour title.

Second seed Opelka had a tougher outing, needing iii hours to overcome John Millman 7-half dozen (ten-viii) six-vii (3-7) 7-vi (7-iv). In a match which just saw two breaks of serve,

Opelka, who won last week's Dallas Open title, sent down 16 aces and won 82 per cent of his outset serve.

Top seed Cameron Norrie is through to the semi-finals of the Delray Beach Open afterward chirapsia Sebastian Korda in iii sets.

Norrie eventually overcame the American fifth-seed later on a concluding set tie-break, winning 6-ii ane-6 seven-6 (7-4).

The Brit's tenacity was key, saving seven of x break points, and he volition now face another American, Tommy Paul, in the final four in Florida after he beat qualifier Stefan Kozlov half dozen-3 6-1.

The other semi-concluding will be contested between Reilly Opelka and John Millman subsequently they bested Adrian Mannarino and Grigor Dimitrov respectively.

Opelka was taken to a tertiary set by his French opponent before winning 7-6 (7-ii) 3-half-dozen 6-1, hitting 19 aces on his way to victory.

Millan proved also good for 3rd seed Dimitrov winning half dozen-4 6-4 in an hour and 34 minutes where the Australian'southward return was a highlight.

At the Rio Open up, rain washed out many of the scheduled matches on Friday, with Diego Schwartzman against Pablo Andujar and Miomir Kecmanovic against Francisco Cerundolo both cancelled.

Matteo Berrettini and Thiago Monteiro were finally able to finish their round of 16 match at xi.35pm local time, with the Italian securing victory vi-4 half dozen-7 (6-8) 6-iii.

He will play seventh seed Carlos Alcaraz who overcame Federico Delbonis 6-4 seven-half-dozen (7-1) after their match was pushed back, starting not long prior to midnight local time.

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