Plíšková, who is defending last year’s semi-final appearance in Cincinnati, had to play catch-up against the older of the Williams sisters in the opening set after losing her serve in the fifth game after a big fight. She managed to eliminate the deficit three games later, when her opponent made two double faults in a row, among other things. In the end, the Czech tennis player won the even set after more than an hour, 7:5.
In the second set, the seven-time Grand Slam champion gradually ran out of strength and Plíšková smoothly won the duel. Elise Mertensová from Belgium awaits Pliskova in the second round.
Bouzková started the duel with the world number 12 better, but immediately lost the advantage of the break, and then both tennis players performed attractive balanced exchanges. The American took the lead in the sixth game, but in the ninth game she fell and sprained her ankle while chasing the ball behind the baseline. However, she continued in the match.
The Czech tennis player won the game and reduced it to 4:5, then equalized with her serve and took the lead with another converted break point. Only then did the American request a break for treatment and have her ankle taped. Bouzková served the opening set superbly and won the first game of the second set over her visibly shaken opponent, after which Gauffová gave up.
Petra Kvitová, who secured her advance earlier, is expected in the second round by Sorana Cirsteaová. Today, the Romanian tennis player knocked out Olympic champion Belinda Bencic from Switzerland, and she will face Kvitova for the tenth time. The Czech two-time Wimbledon champion is 5:4 in their head-to-head matches, but the Romanian won last time at this year’s Australian Open.
| CINCINNATI (hard surface): |
|---|
| Men (subsidy $6,971,275): |
| Singles – 1st round: |
| Sinner (10-It.) – Kokkinakis (Aust.) 6:7 (9:11), 6:4, 7:6 (8.6) |
| Paul – Brooksby (oba USA) 6:3, 6:2 |
| Čorič (Croatia) – Musetti (It.) 7:6 (7:2), 6:3 |
| De Minaur (Aust.) – Laaksonen (Switzerland) 6:2, 6:2 |
| Fognini (It.) – Ramos (Sp.) 6:2, 6:3 |
| Fritz (11-USA) pinned Baez (Arg.) 6:1, 6:1 |
| Kyrgios (Aust.) – Davidovich (Sp.) 7:5, 6:4 |
| Women ($2,527,250 endowment): |
| Singles – 1st round: |
| Karolína Plíšková (14-CZE) – V. Williamsová (USA) 7:5, 6:1 |
| Bouzková (Czech Republic) – Gauffová (USA) 7:5, 1:0 draw |
| Cirsteaová (Romania) – Bencicová (12-Switzerland) 6:2, 6:7 (3:7), 6:4 |
| Mertensova (Belgium) – Kalininova (Ukraine) 6:1, 6:1 |
| Zhang Shuai (China) – Osaka (Japan) 6:4, 7:5 |
| Kalinská (Rus.) – Trevisanová (It.) 7:6 (7:2), 7:5 |
| Rogers – Kenin (both USA) 6:2, 6:1 |
| Kostuková (Ukr.) – Giorgiová (It.) 6:4, 5:7, 6:4 |
| 2nd round: |
| Martincová (ČR) – Kontaveitová (2-Est.) 6:3, 5:7, the third set is played |
