Cincinnati Open—Mason, Ohio
Zverev, Svitolina Advance at Cincinnati Open
French Open finalist Alexander Zverev took one step closer to reaching his first final at the Cincinnati Open on Thursday, defeating Russian Karen Khachanov 6-3, 6-2.
Needing one hour and 22 minutes to progress, Zverev won the hard-hitting battle by striking seven aces, 16 winners and breaking his opponent on four occasions.
Improving to 50-15 on the season, Zverev will next face Max Purcell or Pablo Carreno Buster for a place in the quarterfinals.
Other winners on the day included Flavio Cobolli.
The inform Italian advanced when his countryman Luciano Darderi was forced to retire trailing 7-6(4), 3-1.
Ostapenko Ousted by Avanesyan
Former French Open winner Jelena Ostapenko was ousted in the round of 32 in Mason, Ohio on Thursday, losing to Elina Avanesyan 2-6, 6-2, 6-2.
The Armenian star broke Ostapenko on eight occasions and added one ace to her victory.
The 21-year-old will next face No. 10 seed Liudila Samsonova or Magda Linette for a quarterfinal birth.
Other winners on the day included Canadian Leylah Fernandez and Ukrainian Elina Svitolina.
Fernandez upset No. 4 seed Elina Rybakina 3-6, 7-6(3), 6-4.
Still to come on Thursday, No. 2 seed Carlos Alcaraz will take on flamboyant Frenchman Gael Monfils under the lights.
Alcaraz hasn’t played an event since losing to Novak Djokovic in the finals of the Olympic Games.
Monfils recently defeated Montreal Masters champion Alexi Popyrin in the first round.
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