CINCINNATI – Novak Djokovic reached the third round at the Cincinnati Open after Alejandro Davidovich Fokina pulled out with an injury on Wednesday.
The second-seeded Serb went 6-4 ahead of the Spaniard and No. 23 in the ATP.
Djokovic had a 2-1 break advantage.
Fokina called timeout late in the first set, as he had a back problem. Then, as the second set started, he pulled out with what may have been a left knee issue.
“My feelings are mixed,” Djokovic said. I really like Alejandro. I get along well off the field with him, and we train together in Spain. He told me that he has had lower back pain since Tuesday. this is sad. »
Djokovic returned to the United States after missing tournaments there under the rules in place during the pandemic.
His next challenger will be another 36-year-old, Gael Monfils. He stunned France’s Alex de Minaur, 7-5, 6-4.
The Toronto champ has already been ousted
Italy’s Jannik Sinner will not be the Masters 1000 champion for the second week in a row.
After winning the National Bank Open in Toronto last weekend, Siner lost to Serbia’s Dusan Lajović in straight sets 6-4, 7-6 (4) in the second round of the tournament in Cincinnati, Wednesday.
In a showdown featuring long wins, Lajović beat the No. 8 seed in two hours and four minutes.
Lajovic will now face American Taylor Fritz (No. 9), who also showed an exit for the Italian with a 6-4, 7-6(1) win over Lorenzo Sonego.
Sinner isn’t the only men’s seed to fall in the second round on Wednesday. Norwegian Casper Rudd (No. 5) lost 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 from Australian Max Purcell.
The other seeds in action on Wednesday, however, saved Honor.
American Tommy Ball (14) beat Frenchman Ugo Humbert 6-1, 7-6 (4), German Alexander Zverev (No. 16) beat Japanese Yoshihito Nishioka in straight sets 7-5, 6-4, while Daniel Medvedev (No. 3) succeeded in Rough handling. Italian Lorenzo Musetti 6-3, 6-2.
Fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas defeated Ben Shelton 7-6 (3), 7-6 (2).
The match went on without interruption. The Greek Tsitsipas committed only five unexplained fouls, 11 less than the American Shelton.
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