Ben Shelton eased into the third round of the Cincinnati Open after Camilo Ugo Carabelli retired early in the second set with a knee injury.
Competing just three days after winning his first ATP Masters 1000 title in Toronto, Shelton was leading 6-3, 3-1 after 64 minutes when the Argentine retired.
Meanwhile, world No. 3 Alexander Zverev dropped a serving masterclass on American Nishesh Basavareddy to breeze into the third round with a 6-3, 6-3 win, his 40th of the year.
Zverev said that he was happy to get through without expending too much energy, and to avoid playing in the heat of the day.
The two-time ATP Finals champion will next play 27th seed, American Brandon Nakashima, who toughed out a 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(5) win over Belgian qualifier Alexander Blockx.
Elsewhere, Karen Khachanov, who fell to Shelton in a third-set tie-break in the Toronto final, won his opening Cincinnati match against French qualifier Valentin Royer 6-4, 7-6.
The World No. 12 hit seven aces according to ATP Stats and took charge with his forehand in his one hour, 50-minute win. He next faces American wild card Jenson Brooksby.
Alcaraz survives Dzumhur scare to reach third round
Carlos Alcaraz battled past World No. 56 Damir Dzumhur 6-1, 2-6, 6-3 to reach the third round of the Cincinnati Masters here on Monday (IST).
Alcaraz raced through the first set in just 28 minutes. But he found himself off course in the second set. With errors creeping in and his intensity dipping, the World No. 2 opened the door for a surging Dzumhur, who began charging the net and taking control of the rallies to level.
Alcaraz currently holds a 1,500-point lead over Sinner in the ATP Live Race To Turin.
Alcaraz has clinched a Tour-leading five titles in 2025, including Masters 1000 crowns in Monte-Carlo and Rome. The 22-year-old’s best result in Ohio came in 2023, when he lost in a three-set final thriller against Novak Djokovic.
The Spaniard, who is chasing eighth Masters 1000 title, will next meet Hamad Medjedovic.
Gauff, Pegula kickstart campaigns with wins
No. 2-seeded Coco Gauff mastered herself and opponent Wang Xinyu with a 6-3, 6-2 victory in 70 minutes to reach the third round at the Cincinnati Masters. Gauff has now won her sixth opening match in eight WTA 1000s this year.
She’ll meet No. 32 Dayana Yastremska, a 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 winner over Viktoriya Tomova, on Tuesday. Gauff has beaten Yastremska three of four times.
Later, No. 4 Jessica Pegula equalled her former doubles partner with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Kimberly Birrell. Next for Pegula is No. 31 Magda Linette, who beat Rebecca Sramkova 7-6 (4), 6-0. Only Aryna Sabalenka (47) and Iga Swiatek (44) have won more matches this year at the WTA level than Pegula’s 37.