Hanfmann sees off Van Assche 6-2 6-4 in Cincinnati opener

Yannick Hanfmann needed only two sets to move past Luca Van Assche 6-2 6-4 in the Cincinnati first round, controlling the match from the baseline behind a serve his opponent could rarely touch. The German struck 10 aces and won 80% of his first-serve points, a margin that made his 59.3% first-serve rate more than enough, and even his second delivery held up at 54.2%. Van Assche landed a similar 60.3% of first serves but won just 58.5% of those points, and only 48.1% behind the second, with four double faults adding to the damage. It was a clean, efficient start to the Masters 1000 for Hanfmann.