Frances Tiafoe beat Olympic bronze medallist Lorenzo Musetti 6-3 6-2 after 68 minutes at the Cincinnati Open. Tiafoe did not face a break point.
Musetti saved three break points in the third game of the first game. Tiafoe broke twice in the seventh and ninth games to win the first set 6-3.
Tiafoe earned an early break in the second game to open up a 3-0 lead. Musetti saved two break points in the fourth game to hold serve at deuce. Tiafoe sealed the win with a double break on the second match point.
“I served really well today. I was the aggressor. I was playing pretty deep great depth. I just tried to get on him early. He has been playing on a bunch of different surfaces. He has played a lot of tennis lately. I know obviously he is trying to get to his best at the US Open, but I thought I had to come really hot and play as fast as I can. I came forward a lot today and I think it really disrupted him. I know he just came from the Olympics, so those are the kind of match-ups you want. I have been on the hard courts since Atlanta, only been playing better each and every week. I thought that was the biggest difference today”, said Tiafoe.
Holger Rune came back from one set down to beat Matteo Berrettini 2-6 6-1 6-4 after 1 hour and 49 minutes at the Cincinnati Open. Rune claimed his third first win on his third appearance in Cincinnati.
Berrettini broke twice in the first and eighth games to win the first set 6-2.
Rune broke twice in in the second and third sets en route to taking the win.
Berrettini entered the match on a 10-match winning streak after winning back-to back ATP Tour titles in Gstaad and Kitzbuhel. Rune set up a second round clash against qualifier Nuno Borges, who beat Adrian Mannarino 6-4 3-6 6-1.
