Federer streaks ahead
Into the third round with a straight-set win
ROGER Federer made a successful return to the Western & Southern Open but it wasn’t such a great day for Serena Williams.
Federer advanced to the third round with a 6-4, 6-4 victory against Peter Gojowczyk, and Williams was eliminated by eighth-seeded Petra Kvitova in a 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 secondround loss.
Federer and Williams were making their first appearance at the tournament since they each won the title in 2015. Williams opened with a straight-sets victory against Daria Gavrilova.
After a first-round bye, Federer extended his Cincinnati winning streak to 11 matches since losing to Rafael Nadal in the 2013 quarter-finals.
“It doesn’t feel like I have been away for so long here from Cincinnati,” Federer said.
“I guess the wheel keeps turning. It’s not like I missed two years of tennis. It was a great pleasure to be back.”
The second-seeded Federer, refreshed from a month off after losing in the Wimbledon quarter-finals, became the tournament favourite when Nadal withdrew on Sunday night.
Williams also was knocked out in her last tournament at San Jose two weeks ago.
Karolina Pliskova and Nick Kyrgios also advanced in early tournament action.
Pliskova moved into the second round by snapping a seven-match losing streak against Agnieszka Radwanska with a 6-3, 6-3 win.
“It means a lot because it was against her, and, like, you know, I never beat her,” Pliskova said.
“We played so many times. I think I always played her at her best level the matches before, so it was always tough.”
No. 11 seed David Goffin advanced with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Leonardo Mayer became the first player to reach the third round on the men’s side with a 7-6 (7), 6-4 victory over 16th-seeded Lucas Pouille.
Australian Open semi-finalist Hyeon Chung won the last five games to beat Jack Sock 2-6, 6-1, 6-2. Sock has lost eight straight matches since winning in Rome on May 13.
Two-time Cincinnati semifinalist Milos Raonic advanced with a 6-3, 6-3 win over qualifier Dusan Lajovic. Robin Haase also made it to the second round, defeating Filip Krajinovic 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.
Fifth-seeded Elina Svitolina was tested by wildcard Svetlana Kuznetsova before reaching the third round with a gritty 7-6 (1), 4-6, 6-4 win.
Sixth-seeded Caroline Garcia also reached the third round with a win over wildcard Victoria Azarenka.