Sports Writing (USA), Aug 15 (EFE)
The Murcian made his debut on the central court of the tournament facing Australian Jordan Thompson (55) for the first time, whom he beat, with more suffering than expected, 7-5, 4-6 and 6-3 in three hours and two minutes .
After a first set for Alcaraz of one hour and 39 minutes of fiercely even play and interrupted by the rain, which has been present or threatening since the tournament began, the second, much faster, was decided in favor of a grown Thompson, but in the third the number one in the world ended up imposing his law.
The 20-year-old Spaniard fell last week in the quarterfinals of the Toronto Masters 1,000 against Tommy Paul (13), with whom he could meet again in the round of 16 if the American beats Frenchman Ugo Humber ( 33).
Alcaraz, who in a couple of weeks begins his defense of the US Open that he won in 2022, could see himself in the final with the Serbian Novak Djokovic, whom he beat in the Wimbledon final and who, with his participation in Cincinnati , returns to competition in the US for the first time since 2021 due to his refusal to be vaccinated against the coronavirus.
Djokovic will debut in Cincinnati against Alejandro Davidovich (23) from Malaga, who today beat Argentine Tomás Etcheverry (31) with great solvency in one hour and 18 minutes with a double 6-3.
In the women’s draw, Cristina Bucsa (84) overcame an adverse start to the match to end up sealing a huge victory against the Swiss Belinda Bencic (14) by 4-6, 6-3 and 6-2 in 2 hours and 29 minutes.
Bucsa thus achieved her first win against a top 20 player and will face Italian Jasmine Paolini (43) in the next round.
SOME SURPRISES AMONG MEN
The Russian Andrey Rublev (8) was defeated again in his debut, as happened in Toronto, this time against the Finn Emil Ruusuvuori (60) by 6-7 (10), 5-7 and 7-6 (3).
For his part, the veteran French player Gael Monfils (211), 36 years old and overcoming discomfort in one knee, passed the round after beating the British Cameron Norrie (15), who has lost four of his last five games, by 3- 6, 6-4 and 6-3.
Monfils will face Australian of Spanish origin Alex de Minaur (12), Toronto finalist, who beat local Jeffrey Wolf (44) 6-0, 3-6, 6-1 in the next round.
The German Alexander Zverez (17) passed the round with a comfortable victory against the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov (19) 6-2, 6-2.
In addition, the Chilean Nicolás Jarry (26) announced today his withdrawal from the tournament for personal reasons (accompanying his wife at the birth of their second child) despite having gone to the second round after defeating the Russian Roman Safiullin (63) by 4 -6, 6-3 and 6-3.
THE WINNER OF THE TOURNAMENT FALLS IN 2022
The last winner of Cincinnati, the French Caroline Garcia (6), fell to the American Sloane Stephens (38) 4-6, 6-4 and 6-4.
Just recovered from a knee injury, the Tunisian Ons Jabeur (5) came back against the Ukrainian Anhelina Kalinina (28) to win 6-3, 6-7 (2) and 7-6 (2) in a two-hour match and 43 minutes.
In addition, the Czech Marketa Vondrousova (10) opened with a victory against her compatriot Katerina Siniakova (46) by 7-5 and 6-4 and will face the Russian Anastasia Potapova (27) in the next round.
Finally, the Belarusian Victoria Azarenka (18) beat the Czech Barbora Krejcikova (11) 6-3, 7-5 while the Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia (19) fell to the Czech Karolina Muchova (17) 6- 7 (3), 6-1 and 6-4. EFE
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