An Eventful Friday and What’s Ahead for the Cincinnati Masters
What a chaotic Friday it was at the Cincinnati Masters! The day kicked off with a stunning upset as Carlos Alcaraz dramatically broke his racquet in frustration after a hard-fought three-set loss to Gael Monfils. This marks a significant moment, as Monfils, at age 37, managed to secure a win over the World No. 1, a feat he couldn’t accomplish against legends like Djokovic, highlighting both his skill and resilience.
As if that wasn’t enough to keep spectators on their toes, the electronic line calling system malfunctioned during the early stages of the match between Ben Shelton and Fabian Marozsan. This type of disruption can throw players off their game, but both demonstrated remarkable composure despite the technical difficulties.
Things took another turn during the night match between Jack Draper and Felix Auger-Aliassime. A crucial point saw a double bounce go unnoticed by the chair umpire, leading to a contentious conclusion of the match. After a tense six-minute discussion at the net, there was no review or change to the outcome, giving Draper the win. These moments undoubtedly add fuel to the ongoing debate about officiating in tennis.
The day concluded with a thrilling late-night victory for Frances Tiafoe, who edged out Jiri Lehecka just after 1:00 AM! The intensity never seems to fade at this tournament.
Looking ahead, Saturday promises a full slate of quarterfinal action. The women’s side features tournament favorite Iga Swiatek facing off against young star Mirra Andreeva, while Aryna Sabalenka goes up against Liudmila Samsonova. Canadian champion Jessica Pegula will meet Leylah Fernandez, and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova takes on Paula Badosa.
On the men’s side, world No. 1 Jannik Sinner was given a walkover from Jordan Thompson and will now face Andre Rublev. Additionally, Alexander Zverev, the lone former champion left in the tournament, battles newcomer Ben Shelton. Jack Draper will match skills with Holger Rune, and Frances Tiafoe will be up against Hubert Hurkacz.
With the stakes this high, we are set for an exhilarating day of tennis. Here’s the schedule for Saturday’s matches:
Saturday Cincinnati Masters Schedule
Center Court – Starts at 11:00 AM
– I. Swiatek (1) vs. M. Andreeva
– Not Before 1:00 PM: J. Sinner (1) vs. (6) A. Rublev
– A. Zverev (3) vs. (12) B. Shelton
– Not Before 7:00 PM: A. Pavlyuchenkova vs. P. Badosa
– J. Draper vs. (15) H. Rune
P&G Grandstand – Starts at 11:00 AM
– M. Granollers/H. Zeballos (1) vs. N. Skupski/M. Venus
– Not Before 1:00 PM: A. Sabalenka (3) vs. L. Samsonova (10)
– Not Before 2:30 PM: J. Pegula (6) vs. L. Fernandez
– Not Before 7:00 PM: H. Hurkacz (5) vs. F. Tiafoe
As we approach the latter stages of this tournament, it’s thrilling to witness the blend of emerging talent and established players. Gael Monfils continues to embody the spirit of tennis with his charisma and skill, reminding us all of how one can grace the court long after the titles fade.
Let’s enjoy the magic of this tournament and see who emerges victorious in the final stages!