Jodar Ends Shapovalov's Cincinnati Run as Seeds Wobble on Both Tours
A day of narrow escapes and one genuine surprise in Cincinnati saw Rafael Jodar edge out Denis Shapovalov in three sets and Magdalena Frech dismantle Jelena Ostapenko, setting up a Sunday programme headlined by Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Alexander Zverev and Daniil Medvedev.
- 1
- Aces
- 3
- 4
- Double faults
- 7
- 65%
- 1st serve in
- 51%
- 67%
- 1st serve points won
- 69%
- 50%
- 2nd serve points won
- 51%
- 61%
- Service points won
- 60%
- 4/8
- Break points saved
The opening rounds in Cincinnati rarely reward the impatient, and Saturday's programme on the Ohio hard courts proved the point. Across the ATP Masters 1000 and the WTA 1000, seeded names survived rather than dominated, and the day's clearest statement came from a player still building his reputation at this level.
Rafael Jodar produced it. The Spaniard outlasted Denis Shapovalov 7-5 4-6 7-5, holding his nerve through two tight sets bookending a Canadian revival, and closing out the decider on a court where service games can turn in a single loose stroke. It was the most eye-catching result of the men's round of 64, and it removes a dangerous left-handed presence from that quarter of the draw.
Elsewhere in the men's event, the margins were similarly thin. Arthur Fery came through 6-4 2-6 7-6 against James Duckworth, Alex de Minaur recovered from a poor opening set to beat Quentin Halys 1-6 6-3 7-6, and Tommy Paul required three sets to see off Hubert Hurkacz 6-4 6-7 6-3 in the day's most attractive matchup on paper. Jiri Lehecka needed the same distance against Matteo Berrettini, winning 6-4 6-7 6-3, while Terence Atmane was more economical in defeating Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-3 7-6. Arthur Fils, after surviving a first-set tie-break, ran away with the second against Yannick Hanfmann for a 7-6 6-1 win.
The women's draw offered the day's other upset. Magdalena Frech allowed Jelena Ostapenko very little, winning 6-1 6-3 in a display of controlled depth, and Diane Parry recovered from a set down to beat Elise Mertens 2-6 6-2 6-2. Jessica Pegula was the most efficient of the higher-ranked players, beating Simona Waltert 6-3 6-2, while Emma Navarro (3-6 6-4 6-2 over Anhelina Kalinina) and Maria Sakkari (6-2 5-7 6-1 against Kamilla Rakhimova) both needed three sets. Linda Noskova beat Katie Boulter 6-3 6-3, Diana Shnaider saw off Tatjana Maria 6-2 7-5, Anna Kalinskaya defeated Caty McNally 6-3 6-4, Sorana Cirstea got past Nikola Bartunkova 7-6 6-3, and Shuai Zhang came through the round of 128 against Kayla Day 2-6 6-2 6-2.
The Challenger circuit, meanwhile, settled its weekend finals. Lloyd Harris recovered from a first-set tie-break to beat Daniel Milavsky in Brownsburg and will meet Andre Ilagan, a straight-sets winner over Jack Pinnington Jones. On clay in Todi, Nicolas Kicker and Maxim Mrva advanced; in Hamburg it will be Marvin Moeller against Jan Kumstat; and in Astana, Aziz Dougaz meets Hayato Matsuoka after both won from a set down.
Sunday is when Cincinnati's headline acts arrive. Aryna Sabalenka, the world number one, opens against Talia Gibson (74), while Elena Rybakina (2) faces Taylor Townsend (110), a matchup of contrasting styles that could easily prove awkward for the higher seed. Iga Swiatek (8) meets Emiliana Arango (97) and Mirra Andreeva (5) plays Oleksandra Oliynykova (44). Madison Keys, Marta Kostyuk against Sofia Kenin, Barbora Krejcikova versus Sara Bejlek and Sloane Stephens against Anastasia Potapova complete a dense women's card.