Tennis

Elina Svitolina's journey in Cincinnati has been marked by both unexpected encounters and a newfound sense of tranquility. Despite her initial stay in a modest hotel, Svitolina has grown fond of the city's calm atmosphere, which provides a welcome respite from the hectic tennis circuit.After a challenging first half of 2024 plagued by injuries, Svitolina's fortunes have taken a turn for the better. Following a series of adjustments recommended by new doctors, she has regained her physical strength and returned to form. Her recent performances at Wimbledon and the Olympics have showcased her resilience and determination.Svitolina's decision to part ways with coach Raemon Sluiter and reunite with Andrew Bettles has also brought a fresh perspective to her game. Bettles, who previously worked with Svitolina for several years, has helped her refine her tactics and regain her confidence.With her physical and mental health restored, Svitolina is now looking ahead to the US Open with renewed optimism. She believes that the adjustments she has made will allow her to finish the season strongly and potentially challenge for a Grand Slam title.Svitolina's journey in Cincinnati is a testament to her perseverance and adaptability. Despite facing setbacks, she has remained focused on her goals and found ways to overcome adversity. As she prepares for the final major tournament of the year, she is a force to be reckoned with.

Coco Gauff's title defense at the Cincinnati Open came to an abrupt end in the second round, as she was upset by Yulia Putintseva in three sets, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4. The defeat marks a disappointing setback for Gauff, who was hoping to build momentum heading into her US Open title defense.A year ago, Gauff made a breakthrough at the Cincinnati Open, defeating world No. 1 Iga Swiatek in the semifinals and capturing her biggest title to date. That victory propelled her to even greater heights, as she went on to win the 2023 US Open.However, Gauff has struggled to find her form in the lead-up to this year's Cincinnati Open. She is now 1-2 across the North American hard-court swing, with her lone victory coming in Toronto over Wang Yafan.Putintseva, who had a 0-3 head-to-head record against Gauff going into their clash, played with determination and resilience. She broke Gauff's serve in the first set and held on to win 6-4. Gauff responded strongly in the second set, breaking Putintseva's serve twice to level the match.But Putintseva regained her composure in the third set, breaking Gauff's serve early and holding on to her own serve throughout the set. She eventually sealed the victory with a forehand winner, sending Gauff packing.Putintseva will now face Washington DC champion Paula Badosa in the round of 16. Badosa, who toppled No. 13 seed Anna Kalinskaya 6-3, 6-2 earlier in the day, will be a tough opponent for Putintseva.Gauff's defeat is a reminder that even the best players can experience setbacks. She will now have to regroup and refocus her efforts on the US Open, where she will be aiming to defend her title.

Frances Tiafoe's resurgence has been a welcome sight for tennis fans. After a disappointing start to the 2024 season, the American has rediscovered his form, winning eight of his last 12 matches.Tiafoe's most impressive victory came against Lorenzo Musetti in the Cincinnati Open, where he cruised to a 6-3, 6-2 win. This followed a hard-fought 6-4, 7-6 (3) triumph over Andrey Rublev in Washington, D.C. and a competitive five-set loss to eventual Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz.Tiafoe's recent performances have showcased his return to Top 10 form. His ability to hit his spots on serve and finish points at the net has made him a formidable opponent.In the Cincinnati Open round of 16, Tiafoe will face Jiri Lehecka, who is coming off a surprising victory over Daniil Medvedev. However, Lehecka's recent form has been inconsistent, and he has struggled with a back injury.Lehecka's serve is his biggest weapon, but he has been struggling to find consistency. Against Medvedev, he made only 62.7% of his first serves, well below his season average of 63.9%.Tiafoe's ability to return serve effectively and engage in longer rallies should give him an advantage over Lehecka. The American is in good form and has a strong track record on North American hard courts.Based on these factors, Tiafoe is the favorite to win this match. His recent performances have shown that he is back to his best, while Lehecka is still finding his feet after an injury layoff.

Yoshihito Nishioka's Cincinnati Open campaign ended in disappointment as he squandered a one-set lead against Hubert Hurkacz, succumbing to a 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-1 defeat. The Japanese star's frustration boiled over in the final set, resulting in multiple penalties for ball abuse, including a game penalty.Nishioka, known affectionately as "Yoshi," had been aiming to break a 10-match losing streak against Top 10 opponents. He appeared poised to do so when he held a 4-1 lead in the second-set tiebreaker. However, Hurkacz rallied to win the tiebreaker and seize control of the match."Until the middle of the second set, he looked a little bit tired," Hurkacz said after the match. "He was having some problems with his back. He wasn't playing his best tennis, and I could see that, so I maybe had a chance to win today."Nishioka's frustration reached its peak in the third set when he fell behind a break. He hit multiple balls into the stands, incurring a point penalty. Another instance of ball abuse triggered a game penalty, giving Hurkacz a double-break advantage."I was already frustrated before the tiebreak," Nishioka explained. "In the third set when he broke me, and I felt like everything went to him and nothing to me. I played ok, but everything went to him, so that's where the frustration was coming from."Nishioka apologized for his behavior, expressing his hope to learn from his experience at the Lindner Family Tennis Center and perform better at the upcoming US Open."I had a lot of support here and in the U.S. as well, and in my home country," Nishioka said. "I had a good result here, beating [Miomir] Kecmanovic, who is a great player. I had good play against Hubi in our first meeting, but in the third set, I tanked a little bit.""I'm very sorry to my fans: I showed my best tennis until the second set when I couldn't. Hopefully, there'll be some luck to me at the US Open. I think my feel in tennis is better and better each day. I have to take care of my body a little bit and get ready for the US Open. I think I can play good tennis there."

Iga Swiatek, the world's top-ranked women's tennis player, sought solace in the tranquility of Mason, Ohio, to regain her equilibrium after a whirlwind European tour marked by both triumphs and setbacks.Swiatek's recent victories in Madrid, Rome, and Paris were followed by a disappointing early exit at Wimbledon and a missed opportunity for Olympic gold. However, she quickly rebounded with a bronze medal for Poland.Mason, a peaceful exurb, provided the ideal setting for Swiatek to focus on her game and eliminate distractions. "I felt I needed to reset and improve my technique," she said. "This is the perfect place to do it."In her opening match at the Cincinnati Open, Swiatek dominated Varvara Gracheva in the first set, winning 6-0. Her serve was untouchable, and her forehand was precise. However, the match took an unexpected turn as Swiatek faltered in the second set, losing 10-8 in a tiebreaker."I backed out," Swiatek admitted. "I started playing less intensely."In the third set, Swiatek regained her composure with the help of her coaching team. She broke Gracheva's serve at 2-2 and went on to win 6-2."I'm happy I could be more proactive again," Swiatek said. "I knew I had my game to win."Swiatek's performance showcased her exceptional skills on hard courts, but also revealed her vulnerability to nerves and errors under pressure.Despite the challenges, Swiatek remains optimistic. "I'm still happy with my performance," she said. "The transition from clay to hard courts is difficult."Swiatek will face Marta Kostyuk in the third round, seeking to continue her progress in Mason and prepare for the upcoming US Open.

Jannik Sinner, the world's top-ranked tennis player, continued his impressive 2024 season by reaching the quarterfinals of the Cincinnati Open on Wednesday. Sinner defeated American Alex Michelsen 6-4, 7-5, saving all eight break points he faced.Sinner attributed his victory to his forehand, which he used to push Michelsen back and control the court. "I tried to push a bit more with the forehand when I had the chance," Sinner said. "The court is quite slippery and fast, so the more flat you can play sometimes, the better it is."Despite missing the Paris Olympics due to tonsilitis, Sinner has been in excellent form this season, reaching the quarterfinals or better in all 10 tournaments he has played. He is now 45-5 on the year, including a victory at the Australian Open.Sinner's next opponent will be Jordan Thompson, while Frances Tiafoe advanced to the quarterfinals with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Lorenzo Musetti. Tiafoe has had a mixed North American hard-court swing, but he is now one win away from reaching the semifinals in Cincinnati.In other action, Daniil Medvedev and Jiri Lehecka will face off for a spot in the quarterfinals. Medvedev is the 2019 Cincinnati champion, while Lehecka is a rising star who recently reached the semifinals of Wimbledon.

Stefanos Tsitsipas, the former world No. 3, has overcome a slow start and off-court upheaval to defeat Jan-Lennard Struff at the Cincinnati Open. Tsitsipas, who recently parted ways with his father as his head coach, admitted to being in a "bad place" after losing the first set. However, he rallied to win the next two sets and secure a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory.Tsitsipas's win comes amidst a period of transition in his career. He is now working with childhood friend Dimitris Chatzinikolaou as he weighs more permanent coaching options. Tsitsipas acknowledged the challenges of such changes but emphasized the importance of focusing on his own abilities and finding the right people to support him."The right people adjust and they make it work for you and they make it work around you," Tsitsipas said. "Once you find these people, it's a big relief for your tennis because you're able to communicate in great ways."Tsitsipas also expressed gratitude for the emotional support he has received from his girlfriend, Paula Badosa, a former world No. 2. He clarified that his decision to part ways with his father was his own and not influenced by anyone else."This was entirely my decision, not influenced by anyone else," Tsitsipas said. "It was a difficult one to make, and I didn't actually advise with her, which I guess would have been a normal thing to do when you're in a relationship."Tsitsipas will next face Jack Draper, who holds a 1-0 head-to-head advantage over the Greek star. Tsitsipas is hoping to build positive momentum ahead of the 2024 US Open, where he will aim to add to his two Grand Slam runner-up finishes.

World No. 4 Alexander Zverev faces a stern test against No. 22 Karen Khachanov in the Round of 32 at the Cincinnati Open on Thursday, August 15. Zverev has enjoyed a stellar 2024 season, boasting a 46-15 record with two titles and a runner-up finish at Roland Garros. However, his recent form has been shaky, raising concerns ahead of his clash with Khachanov.Khachanov, on the other hand, has endured a challenging year but is coming off a dominant straight-set victory over Francisco Cerundolo. The Russian is known for his resilience on fast courts and his ability to push opponents to the limit.Despite Zverev's impressive season, his recent performances have been alarming. His loss to Arthur Fils in the Hamburg final and his struggles against Lorenzo Musetti and Sebastian Korda have exposed weaknesses in his game, particularly his forehand. If he fails to address these issues, Khachanov could exploit them.Khachanov's all-court ability and confidence-boosting win over Cerundolo make him a formidable opponent. He has also defeated Zverev twice in their head-to-head history, suggesting he is not intimidated by the German.Given Zverev's recent struggles and Khachanov's resurgence, the Russian is a tempting pick to cover +1.5 sets. His ability to extend sets and his potential to steal one or two could prove decisive in this intriguing matchup.

Paula Badosa's journey back to the top of women's tennis has been a rollercoaster ride, but the former world No. 2 is finally feeling like she's off the ride. After an 18-month battle with a career-threatening back injury, Badosa is back in the winner's circle and eager to make up for lost time.Badosa's injury woes began in 2022, forcing her to miss three of four major tournaments. She shut down her season last August in hopes of healing her back for good, but doctors prescribed a regimen of cortisone shots that dimmed the prospects of a long career for the then-26-year-old."It really is a rollercoaster, and you wake up every day not knowing what is going to happen," Badosa said. "Emotionally, there have been ups and downs and it's been tough for me lately."But Badosa never gave up hope. She opted out of further back treatments and began to feel like herself again on clay, pushing Coco Gauff to three sets at the Foro Italico and reaching the third round at Roland Garros. She went one round better at Wimbledon for her best Grand Slam finish in two years, teeing her up to hit the ground running on hard courts."I'm an aggressive player, but I need my physical part," Badosa explained. "I think it's very important for me to feel strong, to feel that I can play tough matches, to feel that I can play long rallies also. So, once I felt that, I think it went straight to my mindset, to my mentality, and then when I feel strong in that area, I feel strong mentally, so I start to feel competitive again."Badosa's improved physicality was on display again Wednesday, helping her rally from a break down in the second set to knock out American Peyton Stearns and book a second round against No. 13 seed Anna Kalinskaya."I remember thinking, ‘Oh, shit, you cannot go to a third set because next day you're not going to be able to play because you're not ready for that,’ she recalled of her early-season mindset. “I had that moment [today] in the second set, but I remember thinking, ‘Oh, it's okay. You still have a third one. And it doesn't matter if you go to a battle there, because next day you will feel okay now.’ I saw that, especially in Washington that I had tough matches. So that, for me, makes me relax a bit on the court and I can play more free.”Though her team continues to monitor her back, Badosa hasn't had any cortisone shots since Paris, a welcome relief to the doctors who questioned how much longer she could compete professionally."They were expecting me to be okay, and we didn't find solutions in that moment," said Badosa. "So, for them now it's a normal thing, and before it was they were surprised. For the moment it's positive."Back in range for a seed at the 2024 US Open, Badosa is eager to make up for lost time."You'll have to see me for a few more years now!"