Heat Withers Opponents at Citi Open on Monday As First Round Concludes
Steve Fogleman in Washington
You know what would be nice? If our Summer Series here in the States were in May or June like they are in Europe. I know they had record heat this summer over there, but it’s always roasting on this side of the Atlantic during the Citi Open, Canada, Cincinnati and the heat dome that is Flushing Meadows. That said, the heat seemed to play a factor at Rock Creek Park in Washington yesterday and it’ll be here all week.
Tereza Martincova was bageled in the first set of her first round win against qualifier Xinyu Wang. She took a bathroom break, returned 10 minutes later and recovered to win, 0-6, 6-4, 6-4.
Yoshihito Nishioka, always one to stop and greet the fans after a win, ran off of John Harris grandstand yesterday and headed straight for the showers like he’d suffered a loss. In fact, the highly perspiring Nishioka won, 6-4, 6-3, over a very dejected Jenson Brooksby and will face Alex DeMinaur in similar conditions this afternoon.
Emil Ruusuvuori suffered through the first set against Mackenzie McDonald before shocking the American in three sets, 1-6, 6-4, 6-4, in a match where it appeared the Mackster had it locked up in the later sets. Ruusuvuori gets Hubert Hurkacz this afternoon for a spot in the Round of 16.
Last night saw some promising players come up just short in their quest for the title in Washington. Dominik Koepfer took a first set tiebreak and kept it close before Karen Khachanov closed it out, 6-7(3), 7-5, 6-4. Qualifier Borna Gojo gave Botic Van de Zandschulp a rough ride in the first set and throughout the match as the Dutchman eked out a 6-7(6), 7-6(5), 6-4 finish.
Chris Eubanks bounced back from first set disappointment to topple France’s Benjamin Bonzi, 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 and Jack Sock thrilled the crowd on grandstand with a straight sets win over David Goffin, 7-6(4)-6-4.
Tennis Atlantic 