Cincinnati Masters: Alcaraz beat Thompson for fiftieth win of season; Djokovic loses in doubles

Aug  17  –  Carlos Alcaraz received his fiftieth match of the 12 months in personal-best time, defeating Jordan Thompson 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 within the second spherical of the ATP 1000 occasion Cincinnati Masters.

Alcaraz will face the winner of the third-round match between Frenchman Ugo Humbert and American Tommy Paul, who surprised the reigning US Open champion final week in Toronto.

On Tuesday evening, the Spaniard, who moved to 12-0 in his opening-round matches this 12 months, hit the 50-win mark in his twelfth competitors of the 12 months. His fiftieth match win got here final season within the semi-finals of the US Open, his 14th event of the season.

The 20-year-old, who improved to 50-5 this 12 months, is aiming for his seventh championship of 2023 to go together with titles from Buenos Aires, Indian Wells, Barcelona, Madrid, Queen’s, and Wimbledon.

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Alcaraz should attain the ultimate this week with a purpose to stay atop the ATP Rankings for the thirty fourth week in a row on Monday. Something lower than a run to the ultimate opens up numerous potentialities for Serbian nice Novak Djokovic to reclaim the highest rating.

Djokovic, alternatively, made his first look in america in practically two years, enjoying doubles with fellow Serb Nikola Cacic however shedding 4-6, 2-6 to British-Kiwi combo Jamie Murray and Michael Venus.

This was the Serb’s first aggressive match since shedding within the Wimbledon ultimate to world primary Carlos Alcaraz. Moreover, the ATP 1000 occasion is Djokovic’s sole event earlier than the US Open, which begins on August 28 at Flushing Meadows in New York.

On Wednesday evening, the 23-time grand slam champion will start singles play in opposition to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.

Djokovic has not performed in North America since shedding within the 2021 US Open ultimate attributable to vaccine necessities requiring abroad travellers to get immunised in opposition to Covid-19.