Roger Federer took a first step toward a seventh Cincinnati title on Tuesday night, beating Roberto Bautista Agut 6-4, 6-4 in his opening match.
The Swiss star won the Western & Southern Open last year for his unprecedented sixth title at the longtime ATP Tour stop. He got a good start by easily handling the Spaniard, whom he has beaten in straight sets in all four of their matches.
On the women’s side, Maria Sharapova and Venus Williams dropped out of the tournament. Sharapova is still bothered by an injured right leg and Williams came down with a virus.
Photo: EPA
Federer worked out at his home in Switzerland instead of playing in the Rogers Cup last week. He was a little rusty at the outset on Tuesday, but got into a rhythm as the match went along. He did not face a break point during the match that lasted 1 hour, 9 minutes, and lost only three points off his serve in the second set.
“It’s been a while since I’ve had a match,” Federer said. “So that’s what gets you in a different mood, different thinking. You know, I can switch it on very quickly. I only need literally like 10 minutes to really get ready for the match.”
John Isner’s summer surge ended with an opening-round loss to friend and doubles partner Sam Querrey, leaving the top-ranked US player with some things to work out before the US Open. Querrey was steady throughout a 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) win over the 11th-seeded Isner, the first upset on the men’s side.
Isner had won 11 of 13 matches on hard courts this summer, winning the title in Atlanta, reaching the final in Washington and advancing to the quarter-finals in Montreal. He is to rest heading into the US Open.
Isner was worn down from the stretch of matches in those three tournaments.
“I have definitely felt better,” Isner said. “That’s the thing: You put some good weeks together, it can put you in a bit of a deficit the following week, but regardless, it’s disappointing to lose.”
Querrey improved to 4-1 against Isner. He also beat him in straight sets in the quarter-finals at Memphis this year.
The two US players have teamed up in doubles for at least two tournaments each year since 2008. They had never played each other in the first round of a Masters event.
“It’s not that fun, but you know it happens all the time,” Querrey said. “It’s just part of the game. After, in the locker room, we talked like nothing happened, so everything is all fine.”
Sixth-seeded Tomas Berdych and seventh-seeded Marin Cilic advanced with straight-set wins.
The women’s bracket lost two players who were hoping for rejuvenating weeks in Cincinnati.
Sharapova withdrew from the Rogers Cup last week because of a strain in her upper right leg. She had hoped to get some matches in Cincinnati to get ready for the US Open, but the leg was still bothering her.
“I have been practicing here the last few days and I’m just looking at the US Open in, you know, 11 or 12 days,” Sharapova said. “It’s a tough decision to make, but I think a wise one, in order to give myself the right amount of time to be as healthy as I can be for the Open.”
Venus Williams withdrew from her evening match against sixth seed Ana Ivanovic because of illness. Since losing to sister Serena at Wimbledon, she has made first-round exits at Istanbul and Toronto and had to withdraw from Cincinnati after one match.
“After warm-ups, I get a feel for how the match might go or how much you can give or you can’t give,” she said. “I definitely would have liked to have more matches, but I have to use my experience now.”
Sloane Stephens got started toward a second championship, beating 10th-seeded Carla Suarez Navarro 6-1, 6-2. She won her first professional title at the Citi Open on Aug. 9 in Washington.
“[You are] always like searching and trying to find that next great moment, and like that was like one Sunday where I had a great moment,” said 22-year-old Stephens, a first-round loser at Toronto last week. “Now, I’m like, ‘I need another Sunday. Come on.’”
In women’s doubles, Taiwanese sisters Chan Hao-ching and Chan Yung-jan defeated Germany’s Laura Siegemund and Croatia’s Darija Jurak 6-2, 6-4. They are to face France’s Caroline Garcia and Slovenia’s Katarina Srebotnik in the second round.
Additional reporting by staff writer
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan on Saturday won the men’s doubles bronze medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, after they were bested by the hosts in their semi-final. The Taiwanese shuttlers lost to China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who advanced to yesterday’s final against Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzudin. The Chinese pair outplayed Lee and Yang in straight games. Although the Taiwanese got off to a slow start in the first game, they eventually tied it 14-14, before Liang and Wang went on to blow past them to win 21-17. In the second game, Lee and