Alexei Popyrin’s winning streak has come to an end with a first-round defeat at the Cincinnati Masters.
Two days after winning the Montreal Masters to become the first Australian in 21 years to claim an ATP 1000 series title, Popyrin crashed back to earth with a 7-5 6-3 loss to Frenchman Gael Monfils.
There was better news for compatriots Jordan Thompson and Max Purcell, who progressed with a 6-4 7-6 (7-1) win over Czech Tomas Machac.
Thompson recorded a 6-2 6-4 win over Argentine Sebastian Baez and will take on world No.1 Jannik Sinner for a place in the quarters after he advanced with a 6-4 7-5 triumph over Alex Michelsen.
The Italian bounced back from a hip-injury scare and a quarter-final exit in Canada, but needed to save all eight break points against the American qualifier.
Sinner has reached that stage at all five previous ATP Masters 1000s he has played this season, but he has never advanced to the last eight in Cincinnati.
“It was a tough match,” Sinner, who improved to 25-2 on hard courts this season, said.
“I’m very happy to be in the next round. For me this is a place where I used to struggle a lot in the past years, so let’s see what I can do this time.”
Jiri Lehecka earned a stunning second-round upset victory against former world No.1 Daniil Medvedev.
Medvedev, the 2019 champion, arrived in Ohio hungry for matches after an opening-round exit in Montreal. But the Czech world No.35, who prior to Cincinnati had not played since Madrid due to a back injury, emerged victorious 7-6 (7-2) 6-4.
“It’s amazing to be back, to be honest,” Lehecka said.
“It was a long time since I was playing on a big stage, so I enjoyed every moment of it today. To get a win against such a good player, talented player as Daniil surely is, is just a bonus for me.”
Elsewhere, Jack Draper required a medical time out before beating Jaume Munar 7-5 3-6 7-6 (7-5) and will play world No.11 Stefanos Tsitsipas in the next round after the Greek defeated Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff 4-6 6-4 6-3.
Denmark’s Holger Rune, Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime, Nuno Borges of Portugal and American Frances Tiafoe also moved on.
With AAP.
Content Source: www.perthnow.com.au