Cincinnati Masters Highlights: Djokovic, Alcaraz make way into semifinal

Cincinnati Masters Highlights: Top seeds Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic booked their spot in the semifinal at the Cincinnati Masters 2023. World No.1 Iga Swiatek meanwhile sailed past Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova in the quarterfinal. She will be facing Coco Gauff in the last-four stage.

Also Read: Cincinnati Masters: Alexander Zverev knocks out Daniil Medvedev, enters quarterfinal

Men’s Singles

Carlos Alcaraz BEAT Max Purcell – 4-6, 6-3, 6-4

Alexander Zverev BEAT Adrian Mannarino – 6-2, 6-3

Novak Djokovic BEAT Taylor Fritz – 6-0, 6-4

Women’s Singles

Iga Swiatek BEAT Marketa Vondrousova – 7-6, 6-1

Coco Gauff BEAT Jasmine Paolini – 6-3, 6-2

Aryna Sabalenka BEAT Ons Jabeur – 7-5, 6-3

Men’s Singles

Carlos Alcaraz vs Max Purcell

Carlos Alcaraz survived another three-set test at the Western & Southern Open on Friday, when he ended Australian qualifier Max Purcell‘s dream run in Cincinnati.

After clawing past Jordan Thompson and Tommy Paul in deciding sets in his first two rounds, the World No. 1 was made to battle again in his quarter-final clash against Purcell, earning a hard-fought 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory in two hours and 11 minutes.

“It was really tough. It was tricky today. He served really well. I think he played well at the net, but I think I played well. I returned well on court and that was the key to getting the win today, to return very well and to focus,” Alcaraz said. “It was not easy but I am really, really happy to reach my seventh Masters 1000 semi-final and first here in Cincinnati.”

Alexander Zverev vs Adrian Mannarino

Alexander Zverev extended his perfect ATP Head2Head record against Adrian Mannarino to 8-0 with a comfortable victory on Friday night at the Western & Southern Open. Zverev cruised through a 6-2, 6-3 win in just one hour, 12 minutes to set up a semi-final showdown with Novak Djokovic or Taylor Fritz.

“I feel like the matches that we played, we had a lot of tough battles. I’ve always played him at tournaments when I’ve been playing well,” Zverev said of his unblemished record against the Frenchman.

Novak Djokovic vs Taylor Fritz

After improving to 19-0 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head against Gael Monfils on Thursday, Novak Djokovic made it a perfect 7-0 against Taylor Fritz with a victory against the home favourite on Friday night at the Western & Southern Open.

The Serbian dominated early and late in a 6-0, 6-4 win against the American, battling back from an early break deficit in set two to advance to the Cincinnati semi-finals. The World No. 2 will next face Alexander Zverev on Saturday.

Women’s Singles

Iga Swiatek vs Marketa Vondrousova

World No.1 Iga Swiatek turned around a first-set deficit against Wimbledon winner Marketa Vondrousova to reach the semifinals of the Western & Southern Open.

Roland Garros champion Swiatek trailed the 10th-seeded Czech 5-3 in the first set of their quarterfinal match Friday, but reeled the left-hander in a 7-6(3), 6-1 win on Cincinnati’s Center Court. 

Swiatek’s sixth Top 10 win of 2023, which now leads the WTA Tour after her 1-hour, 31-minute win broke her tie with Vondrousova, Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka, puts her into her 10th semifinal of the year. 

Coco Gauff vs Jasmine Paolini

No.7 seed Coco Gauff of the United States moved into the Western & Southern Open semifinals for the first time with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Italian qualifier Jasmine Paolini on Friday.

The only American woman to make it into the singles quarterfinals on home soil this week, Gauff eased past World No.43 Paolini in 1 hour and 12 minutes to book her spot in the final four in Cincinnati.

“Really happy with how I was able to play today,” Gauff said, after her win. “She’s not an easy opponent. Last time I played her we had a long three-set match. So I’m happy to get it in in straight sets today.”

Aryna Sabalenka vs Ons Jabeur

World No. Aryna Sabalenka returned to the semifinals at the Western & Southern Open after defeating No.5 Ons Jabeur 7-5, 6-3 in the quarterfinals on Friday night. The victory sets up a rematch of the dramatic Roland Garros semifinal that saw Karolina Muchova save match point to defeat Sabalenka in three sets. 

Muchova advanced to her first WTA 1000 semifinal after Marie Bouzkova retired due to a right thigh injury. Muchova led 3-0 in the first set before Bouzkova could no longer continue. 

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