Australian star Alex de Minaur, ranked 8th globally, suffered an early exit at the Cincinnati Masters 1000, falling to American Reilly Opelka 7-6(6), 6-4 in his opening second-round match. The 26-year-old, fresh off an ATP 500 title in Washington and a quarterfinal run in Toronto, squandered seven break point opportunities and lost his serve in the second set on Opelka’s lone break chance of the match.
Opelka advances to face 24-year-old Argentine Francisco Comesana, ranked 71st, in the third round.
In another significant upset, former world No. 1 Daniil Medvedev of Russia, the 2019 Cincinnati champion, was ousted by Australian Adam Walton (26, ranked 85th). Walton triumphed 6-7(0), 6-4, 6-1 and will next play Czech Jiri Lehecka (23, ranked 26th). Medvedev has managed only three hard-court victories this summer, winning two matches in Washington and one in Toronto.