Cincinnati Open: Katie Boulter collapses to first-round defeat against Magda Linette
Katie Boulter loses nine games in a row after winning opening set as British No 1 suffers first-round exit to Poland’s Magda Linette at Cincinnati Open; Jack Draper in men’s singles action against Jaume Munar on Wednesday – watch live on Sky Sports Tennis from roughly 6pm
Katie Boulter lost nine games in a row on her way to a first-round exit at the Cincinnati Open, the British No 1 collapsing to a 2-6 6-0 7-5 defeat to Poland’s Magda Linette.
Boulter started the match superbly, immediately breaking Linette’s serve twice to race into a 4-0 lead on her way to taking the opening set.
But, suddenly, from a position of such dominance, Boulter would win only eight points the entire second set as Linette bageled the Brit inside 25 minutes to level the match.
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The Pole, ranked 43rd in the world – 13 places below Boulter – maintained her dominance into the third set, swiftly securing a fourth-straight break of serve to move 3-0 up.
Boulter would mount a mini comeback after finally stop the rot in the fourth game, eventually breaking back to level things up at 4-4 in the decider – before then saving two match points when serving down 5-4.
But Linette would convert her third match point two games later to avoid a deciding tie-breaker and she’ll now face either 10th seed Liudmila Samsonova or Wang Xinyu in the second round.
Musetti and Tiafoe set up second-round clash
In the men’s draw, Wimbledon semi-finalist Lorenzo Musetti and the USA’s Frances Tiafoe set up a mouth-watering second-round matchup after bother came through their tournament openers.
Musetti, seeded 14th, beat Nicolas Jarry, the Italian coming from behind to win 4-6 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (7-4), while Tiafoe made lighter work of Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-3 7-6 (8-6).
American 12th seed Ben Shelton also came through in straight sets against countryman Reilly Opelka, triumphing 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (7-3) after getting the better of a couple of tie-breakers.
What’s coming up on Sky Sports Tennis?
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- Cincinnati Open (ATP 1000) – 12-19 AugustCincinnati Open (WTA 1000) – 13-19 AugustWinston-Salem Open (ATP 250) – 18-24 AugustTennis in the Land, Cleveland (WTA 250) – 18-24 AugustAbierto GNP Seguros, Monterrey (WTA 500) – 19-24 AugustUS Open (ATP/WTA) – 26 August – 8 September
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