Rafael Nadal missed his comeback. The Spaniard, who had not played since July 6 due to an abdominal tear which forced him to forfeit the Wimbledon semi-finals, was eliminated as soon as he entered the Masters 1000 in Cincinnati, Wednesday, by the 152e world player, Borna Coric. The current world number three has not sent the best signals twelve days before the US Open,
This is the big surprise of the day, which occurred very late at night, which even the interruption by the rain for 1 h 20 could not prevent. “Rafa” lost not without a struggle, 7-6 (11/9) 4-6, 6-3 after almost three hours. And his level appeared far from that displayed during the first half, when he won the Australian Open and Roland-Garros. “He played better. But it’s hard to take a lot of positive things out of this game. I have to train, I have to go back better, that’s the truth, ”he agreed, without hiding his disappointment.
READ ALSORoland-Garros: Rafael Nadal, the coronation of a metamorphosis
On the hard surface of Cincinnati, where he won in 2013, the 36-year-old Mallorcan has often been in tow, a rare thing, in the exchanges (38 winning shots for Coric, against 22). He also made big mistakes at the worst times, like this forehand too uncrossed, which spoiled a set point in the tie-break, and this double fault which then offered the first round to rival .
Returning to a set everywhere, Nadal did not have this second wind which usually pushes him to force decisions. Unlike the Croatian, who broke to lead 4-2, without ever being worried about his serve. “I had chances in the decisive game and I played very badly. When you come back from injury, if you win the first game, things get better – that wasn’t the case today,” he summed up.
The only positive point, he did not complain about the abdomen or his left foot, he who has to deal with recurring pain due to necrosis of the scaphoid bone.
Earlier, Hubert Hurkacz, finalist last Sunday in Montreal, and Nick Kyrgios, who appeared physically borrowed, were also stopped at 2e round. The Polish (10e) was defeated 7-6 (7/5), 6-7 (5/7), 6-2 by American John Isner (50e). Ditto for the Australian, swept away 6-3, 6-2 in barely 51 minutes by the American Taylor Fritz (13e), who will face the Russian Andrey Rublev (8e).
Kyrgios diminished
Euphoric since his final at Wimbledon, then his title gleaned in Washington two weeks ago, Kyrgios seemed to suffer from back and left knee, paying an unusual overflow of matches for him this summer.
For his part, Stefanos Tsitsipas (7e) had no trouble accessing 8e of the final, dismissing 6-3, 6-4 the Serbian Filip Krajinovic (46e). No more than the Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime (9e) winner 6-3, 6-2 of the Australian Alex De Minaur (20e). Cameron Norrie (11e), recent finalist in Los Cabos, overthrew 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 Andy Murray (47e), which ended with cramps. He will face American Ben Shelton (229e), which surprised 6-3, 6-3 the Norwegian Casper Ruud (5e).
On the women’s side, world number one Iga Swiatek made a successful debut, winning 6-4, 7-5 against American Sloan Stephens (57e). A reassuring victory for the Pole who appeared in difficulty this summer after an irresistible spring, marked by 37 victories in a row.
Emma Raducanu (13e), like the day before against Serena Williams, she was ruthless for the Belarusian Victoria Azarenka (22e), winner in 2013 and 2020 of the event, swept away 6-0, 6-2.
The 19-year-old Briton, who will defend her title at the US Open, will face in 8e of the final the American Jessica Pegula (7e), finalist in Toronto last Sunday.