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Korda keeps coming! In-form American downs Zverev, reaches Montreal SFs

Sebastian Korda’s summer surge continued on Sunday at the Omnium Banque National présenté par Rogers, where the in-form American upset second seed Alexander Zverev to reach his second ATP Masters 1000 semi-final.

Korda prevailed 7-6(5), 1-6, 6-4 against World No. 4 Zverev for his eighth straight tour-level match win and just his second in 14 encounters with Top 5 opponents in the PIF ATP Rankings. The American dealt with the blustery conditions in Montreal better than his opponent, whose victory bid was undermined by 11 double faults, including one to give up a decisive break in the ninth game of the deciding set.

“It means a lot. It’s been a tough year before the US hard-court swing,” said Korda in his post-match interview. “I‘ve just put in a lot of work, and I’m so happy with the results right now. I’m just really enjoying my time on court. Having fun, trying to play aggressive, keep doing my thing, and hope for the best.”

The 24-year-old Korda, who last week won his second Tour title and first at ATP 500 level in Washington, D.C, will now prepare for a quick turnaround before his semi-final. The American faces Alexei Popyrin, who upset Hubert Hurkacz in another rain-delayed clash, in a match scheduled for not before 8 p.m. local time on Sunday evening.

CAN’T STOP WON’T STOP… WINNING 🤖@SebiKorda reaches his fourth consecutive semi-final in as many events and his first at Masters 1000 level!! @OBNmontreal | #OBN24 pic.twitter.com/TKs0uQjKra

— ATP Tour (@atptour) August 11, 2024

Korda twice kept his cool to halt some serious Zverev momentum in the pair’s maiden Lexus ATP Head2Head encounter. He rallied from 1-4 down in the opening set before going onto clinch it in a tie-break, and then responded admirably in the decider after his powerful German opponent had charged to the second set.

Zverev struggled for rhythm on his second serve, particularly in the first and third sets, and Korda finished the match having won 67 per cent (22/33) of points on second-serve return, according to Infosys ATP Stats. He showed no sign of nerves to serve out for a last-four spot.

“I’ve had good preparation for the US hard-court swing and physically I am doing well,” said Korda. “I’m healthy, that’s probably the main thing for me. To stay healthy, and just have fun on court. When I do that, I feel like I can play some pretty good tennis.”

Korda’s only previous Masters 1000 semi-final appearance came in Shanghai last October. After matching that run in Canada, the 24-year-old is up three spots to No. 15 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings. He would rise to a career-high No. 13 in the PIF ATP Rankings if he can lift the title on Monday night.

Popyrin stepped on court against Hurkacz on Sunday afternoon having lost all six previous sets he had played against the Pole. Yet the World No. 62 held firm for a 3-6, 7-6(5), 7-5 victory to become the lowest-ranked semi-finalist at the Canadian Masters 1000 event since the then-No. 143 Denis Shapovalov in 2017.

Although Hurkacz saved a remarkable 17 of 20 break points he faced in the match, Popyrin capitalised on a below-par service game from his opponent to clinch a crucial break in the 11th game of the decider. The 25-year-old Australian is now into his fourth tour-level semi-final and first above ATP 250 level.

Popyrin is up 22 spots to No. 40 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings following his run. He rose to a career-high No. 38 in February, but he will better that if he reaches the final.

[NEWSLETTER FORM]

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Scouting Report: Sinner, Alcaraz, Zverev headline Cincinnati

The North American hard-court swing continues at the Cincinnati Open, where Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev lead the field at the seventh ATP Masters 1000 event of the season.

Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul lead American hopes, while former champions Daniil Medvedev and Grigor Dimitrov also return to the Lindner Family Tennis Center. ATPTour.com looks at 10 storylines to watch over the coming week.

1) Sinner leads the field: Sinner struggled with a right-hip injury during his quarter-final loss to Andrey Rublev in Montreal but will lead the field as the top seed in Cincinnati. The Italian has won four tour-level titles this year, including on hard courts at the Australian Open and in Miami and Rotterdam.

2) Alcaraz returns to hard courts: Alcaraz will compete on hard courts for the first time since he reached the quarter-finals in Miami in March. The No. 3 player in the PIF ATP Rankings has won majors at Roland Garros and Wimbledon since and begins in Cincinnati against Alexei Popyrin or Gael Monfils.

3) Former champions Medvedev & Zverev: Medvedev and Zverev have fond memories in Cincinnati. Fourth seed Medvedev won the title in 2019 and arrives holding an 18-5 hard-court record this year. Zverev, who advanced to the quarters in Montreal, triumphed in 2021 in Cincinnati.

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4) Top 10 stars in action: Andrey Rublev arrives in Cincinnati having enjoyed a deep run in Montreal. The 26-year-old won an ATP Masters 1000 crown in Madrid earlier this year. Hubert Hurkacz returned from injury in Montreal and the fifth seed will play a qualifier or Miomir Kecmanovic in his opening match in Ohio. Casper Ruud’s best result on hard courts this year was a final run in Acapulco. Seeded seventh, he will play Felix Auger-Aliassime or a qualifier in his opening match. Auger-Aliassime defeated Ruud at the Paris Olympics earlier this month.

5) Race To Turin heats up: Stefanos Tsitsipas, Fritz, Paul and Dimitrov are ninth, 10th, 11th and 12th, respectively, in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin. All four Nitto ATP Finals hopefuls will be aiming for deep runs to overtake eighth-placed Andrey Rublev and seventh-placed Alex de Minaur, who is injured and has not played since Wimbledon.

6) Seven Americans in the draw: Alongside Fritz and Paul, there are seven Americans in the draw, excluding qualifiers. Sebastian Korda is still alive in Montreal, where he is in the semi-finals. Former US Open semi-finalist Frances Tiafoe opens against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, while 21-year-old Ben Shelton takes on countryman Reilly Opelka in his opening match. The 2022 Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF champion Brandon Nakashima has received a wild card and faces Fritz. Marcos Giron opens against Sebastian Baez.

7) #NextGenATP Frenchman Fils: Hamburg champion Arthur Fils looks to consolidate his substantial lead in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah. The two-time tour-level titlist is aiming for a return trip to the 20-and-under Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF, to be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia from 18-22 December.

8) Unseeded surprise in Cincy?: Two years ago, then-World No. 152 Borna Coric became the lowest-ranked champion in ATP Masters 1000 history when he lifted the trophy in Cincinnati to win his maiden title at this level. Can unseeded hopes Matteo Berrettini, Karen Khachanov, Felix Auger-Aliassime or Jack Draper follow in Coric’s path?

9) Granollers/Zeballos top seeds: Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos won in Cincinnati in 2021 and will aim to add to the Rome title they won as a team earlier this year. Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden are the second seeds, while Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni are the defending champs. Singles stars Zverev, Tsitsipas, Shelton and Holger Rune compete.

10) Cincinnati celebrates 125 years: The Cincinnati Open is celebrating its 125th year. Founded in 1899, the tournament is planning for the future with $260 million being invested toward on-site improvements as the event prepares for an expanded player field and increased number of days beginning in 2025. Swiss legend Roger Federer has won the singles title a record seven times, with Boris Becker (17) the youngest champion in tournament history.

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Back from the brink! Ram/Salisbury save 4 MPs to reach Montreal final

Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury are still alive, but only just, in Montreal.

The American-British duo’s hopes of a third championship-match appearance at the Omnium Banque National présenté par Rogers hung by a thread on Sunday when it trailed Hugo Nys and Jan Zielinski 5/9 in a Match Tie-break. Yet Ram and Salisbury saved all four match points they faced before pulling through for a stunning 6-2, 4-6, 11/9 semi-final victory.

The third-seeded Ram and Salisbury clinched the final six points of the match in a victory that echoed Daniel Evans and Andy Murray’s spectacular comeback win at the Paris Olympics two weeks ago. It was their second Lexus ATP Head2Head clash with Nys and Zielinski this year, after the two teams’ semi-final clash in January in Adelaide. Ram and Salisbury also triumped in a Match Tie-break on that occasion.

Seeing is BELIEVING 🫨😲

No. 3 seeds @RajeevRam & @joesalisbury92 recover from 9-5(!!!) down in the match tiebreak to reach the championship match! @OBNmontreal | #OBN24 pic.twitter.com/iUalK6mszC

— ATP Tour (@atptour) August 11, 2024

In Sunday’s 80-minute encounter, Ram and Salisbury saved five of six break points they faced, according to Infosys ATP Stats. The 2021 champions and 2023 finalists in Toronto, Ram and Salisbury will hope to clinch their fourth ATP Masters 1000 trophy overall on Monday, when they will take on top seeds Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos or fourth seeds Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic in the championship match.

Ram and Salisbury, who have won the past two editions of the Nitto ATP Finals, have given their chances of returning to this year’s edition of the season finale a huge boost with their run this week in Quebec. The pair has risen eight spots to 12th in the PIF ATP Live Doubles Teams Rankings by reaching the final.

[NEWSLETTER FORM]

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Alcaraz arrives in Cincinnati, hits with Berrettini

Carlos Alcaraz has arrived at the Cincinnati Open, where the Spaniard will compete on hard courts for the first time since March.

The No. 3 player in the PIF ATP Rankings hit with Italian Matteo Berrettini on Sunday after touching down in North America. Alcaraz advanced to the final at last year’s event, falling to Novak Djokovic in a three-set thriller.

POV: You’re at Carlos x Matteo practice 🔥 #CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/v9yFKREa3r

— Cincinnati Open (@CincyTennis) August 11, 2024

The second seed, who won the silver medal at the Paris Olympics last week, will face either Gael Monfils or Alexei Popyrin in his opening match in Ohio. Alcaraz is chasing his fourth title of the year and second at ATP Masters 1000 level, having won on hard in Indian Wells in March.

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Rublev too good for Sinner at Canadian Open

World number one Jannik Sinner is knocked out in the quarter-finals of the Canadian Open by Andrey Rublev.

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Could Medvedev, Rublev & Musetti be best Predictor Picks in Cincinnati?

The North American hard-court season continues with another ATP Masters 1000 event at the Cincinnati Open, where Carlos Alcaraz is the defending champion.

Before each tournament week, ATPTour.com looks at three players who might be good selections for fans in the PIF ATP Rankings Predictor.

Make Your Picks Now!

Daniil Medvedev — defending 90 points
Medvedev lost his opening match in Montreal to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, but signs point towards a bounceback for the former World No. 1 in Cincinnati.

The 28-year-old owns a 15-6 record at the Cincinnati Open, where he won his first ATP Masters 1000 event in 2019. He also has reached two additional semi-finals at the tournament.

Medvedev had a quick turnaround following the Paris Olympics, transitioning from clay to hard courts. Now the fourth seed will look to dig into the part of the season that has historically been his most successful when he plays Jiri Lehecka or Mariano Navone in the second round.

Andrey Rublev — replacing 10 points
The 26-year-old has found some of his best tennis of 2024 in Montreal, where he is into the semi-finals after defeating World No. 1 Jannik Sinner. With a chance to advance even further in Canada, he will look to carry plenty of momentum into Cincinnati.

In 2021, Rublev made his first hard-court Masters 1000 final in Ohio. The sixth seed, who will replace 10 points in his PIF ATP Rankings breakdown, has a big chance to add points to his total with another deep run. The sixth seed will play Zhang Zhizhen or Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the second round.

Lorenzo Musetti — defending 45 points
Musetti has not yet found success in Cincinnati, tallying a 1-2 record at the event. But he has never arrived at the tournament playing as well as he is now.

The Italian advanced to his first major semi-final at Wimbledon and followed that by claiming the singles bronze medal at the Paris Olympics. Musetti, the 14th seed, will begin his run in Cincinnati against Chilean Nicolas Jarry.

Bonus Ball — Daniil Medvedev
It might seem risky to put your Bonus Ball — which doubles your points for that player — on Medvedev since he is defending 90 points. But he has historically played well in Cincinnati and will be hungry to rack up matches after his early exit in Montreal.

Medvedev made clear in Canada that he is keen to add a title to his 2024 resumé. The fourth seed could play Musetti in the third round. However, he leads their Lexus ATP Head2Head series 2-0, with both wins coming in straight sets on hard courts last year.

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Rublev seeks to close out Sinner after brief rain suspension

After Saturday’s evening session was delayed by an hour at the Omnium Banque National présenté par Rogers, Andrey Rublev made the most of a brief window in between rain showers to take the opening set against Jannik Sinner in Montreal. After a short delay, the players returned to Court Central resume their eighth Lexus ATP Head2Head matchup.

The fifth-seeded Rublev claimed a 6-3 opener in a brisk 39 minutes before wet weather interrupted play for a half hour. Rublev’s big baseline hitting helped him secure an early advantage as he seeks his third victory against the defending champion and No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings.

Both men are pulling double duty on Saturday in Montreal. Rublev defeated Brandon Nakashima earlier in the day to complete his box set of quarter-final appearances at all nine ATP Masters 1000s. Sinner beat Alejandro Tabilo to advance to the quarters, extending his hard-court winning streak to eight matches dating back to his Miami title run in March.

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Ram/Salisbury beat Medvedev/Safiullin in Montreal doubles QFs

On a busy Saturday of doubles action at the Omnium Banque National présenté par Rogers, third seeds Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury beat singles stars Daniil Medvedev and Roman Safiullin to advance to the semi-finals at the ATP Masters 1000.

The American-British pair earned a 6-4, 6-4 win behind three breaks of serve. They dominated on their own serve in the quarter-final matchup, winning 86 per cent (25/29) of points behind their first delivery, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

Hugo Nys and Jan Zielinski await in the semi-finals, after they received a walkover against Jack Draper and Jannik Sinner on Friday.

Top seeds Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos earned two wins on Saturday to reach the semis. After wrapping up a 6-4, 6-2 result against Tomas Martin Etcheverry and Alejandro Tabilo, they completed their double duty with a 6-3, 6-4 victory against fifth-seeded Italians Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori. The Spanish-Argentine pair will next meet Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic, after the fourth seeds edged Germans Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz 3-6, 6-2, 10-5.

That semi-final showdown will see the first-place (Granollers/Zeballos) and second-place (Arevalo/Pavic) pairs in the PIF ATP Live Doubles Teams Rankings square off, with both in strong position to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin.

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