On a Soggy Sunday at @CincyTennis, Qualifiers Advance and Main Draw Play Begins
Steve Fogleman in Cincinnati
Rain put a damper on the day in Cincinnati, but patient fans and players saw the conclusion of qualifying and two mediocre first round matches. I don’t know why they bother with these Sunday first round matches anyway. The selected matches never feature marquee players and feel like an unnecessary add-on to what is already an exciting product: qualifying for a master’s event.
The exciting production was in full force. Caroline Garcia is back in the main draw here after a gutsy three set win over Andrea Petkovic on center court, 6-2, 6-7(3), 6-2. For her efforts, she’ll play lucky loser Petra Martic this evening. Taylor Townsend knocked out local favorite Peyton Stearns, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 and will meet fellow qualifier Alja Tomljanovic this evening.
David Goffin may have underestimated Taiwan’s Chun-Hsin Tseng and the crowd got behind the world #85 after shocking Goffin in the first set. Goffin composed himself and rode out a 3-6, 6-3, 6-0 win to qualify. He’ll have the day off today before opposing fellow qualifier Marcos Giron on Tuesday.
Marie Bouzkova is into her first main draw at the Western & Southern Open after an impressive weekend, including yesterday’s domination of Donna Vekic, 6-1, 6-4. With the win comes a match against #11 seed Coco Gauff tomorrow.
Jaume Munar also had a great weekend, heading off to the main draw after surviving Stevie Johnson yesterday, 3-6, 5-3, 5-4. The Spaniard will next battle veteran Marin Cilic for a spot in the second round.
For the record and the trivia, your first main draw winner in Cincinnati was Botic Van de Zandschulp, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 over France’s Maxime Cressy. Later, Mackenzie McDonald made it look easy on court against Nikoloz Basilashvili, 6-0, 6-1. Van de Zandschulp moves on to face the winner of Tommy Paul and Jenson Brooksby, while McDonald booked a date with Carlos Alcaraz.
Tennis Atlantic 