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By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, August 16, 2017

 
Juan Martin Del Potro

Juan Martin del Potro carries a 5-0 record against Grigor Dimitrov into their Cincinnati clash.

Photo credit: Western & Southern Open Facebook

The Western & Southern Open is officially the opportunity Open.

Several elite players have departed the Cincinnati draw creating opportunity for those still standing.

More: Nishikori Ends Season with Wrist Injury

A pair of former Top 10 players—Grigor Dimitrov and Juan Martin del Potro—are trying to make the most of the occasion this week.

Dimitrov did not drop serve in a 7-6 (5), 6-4 decision over veteran Feliciano Lopez.

The 11th-ranked Bulgarian served 68 percent, blasted 11 aces and denied all three break points he faced avenging his Queen’s Club semifinal loss to Lopez in June.

It was Dimitrov’s second Cincinnati win over the left-handed Spaniard in a year following his 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (6) win in the second round last August.

Earning the mini break on Lopez’s first service point of the tie break, Dimitrov raced out to a 4-1 lead in the breaker. A stinging serve brought him three set points. Lopez saved the first two with heavy body serves.

On the third set point, Lopez slid a backhand long as Dimitrov snatched the 54-minute opening set.

“It’s obviously very hot so you need to try to keep a positive mindset and just play a good game overall,” Dimitrov told Tennis Channel’s Leif Shiras afterward. “That’s what I was looking for today. I’m glad to be out in straight sets.

“Of course I put a lot of effort, especially in the past nine months, and it’s been a great progress. Everything has been going pretty well—now it’s just the next step. The next step is going to be pretty vital for me. At the same time, I try to be very focused, give 100 percent and that’s all I can ask from myself right now.”

The seventh-seeded Dimitrov will play Olympic silver medalist del Potro for a quarterfinal spot. If Dimitrov advances to the quarterfinals, he will return to the Top 10.

Del Potro dismissed American qualifier Mitchell Krueger, 6-4, 6-4, though the young American pulled off one of the most thrilling shots of the day in defeat.



The two-time Cincinnati semifinalist fended off all five break points he faced in a one hour, 40-minute triumph over Krueger, who swept Benoit Paire for his first career ATP main-draw victory on Monday.

The 30th-ranked del Potro has won all five prior meetings with Dimitrov, including a 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 decision on red clay in Rome earlier this season. Del Potro has won 10 of 12 sets he’s played against the 11th-ranked Bulgarian.

Nick Kyrgios brought out some show-time shots subduing Alexandr Dolgopolov, 6-3, 7-6 (6).

Kyrgios pumped 15 aces, permitted just six points on his first serve and denied three of four break points in an 86-minute victory.

“He’s very unorthodox—he doesn’t really hit many normal shots out there,” Kyrgios said of Dolgopolov. “He slices and plays flat shots. I knew it was gonna be tough. I’m really surprised I managed to focus all the time.”




Kyrgios will play towering Croatian Ivo Karlovic, who crunched 19 aces sending eighth-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga packing, 6-4, 7-6 (9), in a match that featured only three break points.

Rallies should be brief in a clash featuring two of tennis' most explosive servers, which is just fine with Kyrgios.  

"I’d rather be inside having a cold one. I don’t know it’s pretty hot out there," Kyrgios told Tennis Channel's Leif Shiras. "I played (Karlovic) a couple of times. We all know what he brings to the court. I know it’s gonna be tough. At the same time I know I don’t have to do much running so that’s a plus as well.

"If I’m locked in and playing well I’m gonna be tough. I’m trying to serve big and play big."

The ageless David Ferrer converted eight of 20 break points warding off lucky loser Janko Tipsarevic, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-1, in a two hour, 25-minute battled played in searing heat.

The 35-year-old Spaniard, who fell to Roger Federer in three sets in Montreal last week, takes on 11th-seeded compatriot Pablo Carreno Busta next. They’ve split two meetings with Carreno Busta sweeping Ferrer, 6-3, 6-3, in the Estoril semifinals earlier this season.


 

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