Wednesday began with a bang, Feliciano Lopez v. Grigor Dimitrov on center court. The schedule promised a blockbuster including Nadal, Pliskova, Wozniacki, and Zverev. This day was stamped with one word, Quality.

A few Wednesday Awards…

Best slider on hard courts, Alexandr Dolgopolov… simply amazing despite a loss the Kyrgios.

Fumble of the day. Court 3-the chair of the Kyrgios-Dolgopolov match opened the wrong can of balls, WTA balls not ATP. Dolgopolov and Kyrgios played the better part of the first set with WTA balls and Alexandr discovered the error as he was to serve, up a break point. There are significant differences in how the balls play. Yes, folks, it matters a lot. The balls are not the same but that’s another story.

Best Matches of the ATP

Dimitrov d. Feliciano Lopez 7-6 6-4

This match produced a Lopez hold after Dimitrov pushed an 18-point challenge. While Lopez would be first to depart the center court, his stats were solid. Both big servers, this match yielded 19 aces.

Ramos-Vinolas d. Muller 5-7 6-4 6-4

This match was probably the most underrated in terms of court placement, outer court 4, but fans in the know were courtside watching every ball struck. This 3-setter lasted 2-hr and 20 minutes and no one ever really had the advantage. Muller took the 1st set earning the break in game 12, avoiding a tie-break. But Albert would not yield. In the 2nd set, the two went toe-to-toe until game 7. Double faults crept in for Gilles and Albert capitalized, breaking to 4-3. Now on serve, a second set win looked promising but not a given. Ramos-Vinolas backed up the break with a solid service game including an ace, to push to a 5-3 lead. Muller struggled with his serve, perhaps nerves crept in but he held despite 2 double faults. Steady Ramos-Vinolas closed in 5-points, 6-4.

The 3rd set, the Spaniard took immediate control breaking Muller to 2-1. With the door ajar, he held at love closing with an ace, 3-1. Despite a strong front by Gilles, Albert held all remaining service games, final score 5-7 6-4 6-4. The prize for Ramos-Vinolas, a 3rd round match against Rafael Nadal. In press, Rafa spoke of how they both know each other’s game well, that knowledge always makes for a tough opponent. Thursday, they take center stage, the first night match. Vamos! 

Tiafoe d. Alexander Zverev 4-6 6-3 6-4

NextGen American wild card, Frances Tiafoe made headlines taking out his friend and the man of the hour, Alexander Zverev. In press, he revealed that he knew the strategy of just putting one more ball in play could be successful. With a banner year and successive titles, Zverev has a lot of tennis miles on his body. While fatigue may have been partly a factor, Tiafoe kept composure and put pressure on his ATP peer. In the end, any win, but especially a huge win over the world No. 7, is indeed sweet. Frances is looking to keep the momentum as he takes on ATP veteran John Isner. This is another center stage match. 

Nadal d. Gasquet 6-3 6-4

Rafa continued to keep a stronghold over the head-to-head record over Richard Gasquet, 15-0. In press, Rafa confirmed that Cincy is in center focus despite the road map leading to the year’s final slam, the US Open. Uncertain of whether he will produce a run in Cincy and New York as No. 1, he revealed, “Just happy to be back to that position is something that makes me happy, and of course, is going to be an emotional moment for me. But that doesn’t change my goals. My goal is try to play a good tournament here…I work every day to play better.”

Other Notable ATP Results

Ferrer d. Tipsarevic 6-4 6-7 6-1

Nick Kyrgios d. Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-3 7-6

Yuichi Sugita d. Joao Sousa 3-6 7-6 6-1

Best of the WTA

Ekaterina Makarova d. Angelique Kerber 6-4 1-6 7-6

Hands down, Ekaterina Makarova defeating Angelique Kerber was the WTA match of the day. Makarova took out No. 3 winning the longest 3rd set tie-break in WTA history-Match time: 2-hr 39 minutes. Makarova overcame both her opponent and her body. This match took place during the peak of heat and humidity. Ekaterina was cramping badly in the 3rd set at 5-3, not the time for an “equipment” failure. In press, she revealed the key to getting through the cramping was going back to basics, breathe and try to relax her mind so that her body would respond and allow her to continue. Seems that plan worked like a charm.  A WTA veteran, her WTA journey began in 2004. That experience should come in handy as she takes on American favorite and Cincy wild-card, Sloane Stephens.

Ashleigh Barty d. Venus Williams 6-3 2-6 6-2

Aussie qualifier Ashleigh Barty broke American hearts in Cincy taking out 9th seed, Venus Williams in just under 2-hours. What stands out in this match is the fact that despite being pressed to some very long service games in the 1st set, Barty was not broken. In game 3, she played 12 points and game 5, 14. In the second set, she would turn the tide in the 7th game. Classically strong, Williams held after 14 points. Then Venus broke Barty, taking the set, 6-2.

Barty clearly held on to her belief and broke Venus in the 3rd and 5th service games. Up 5-1, all she had to do was hold her nerve as she had done so many times during the match. She closed in style with a love hold, 6-3 2-6 6-2. Barty will take on pure determination in Caroline Wozniacki. Given her Wednesday result, it seems a fair fight.

Wozniacki d. Vesnina 6-2 6-4

With many miles run and reaching 6 WTA finals in 2017, Wozniacki seems no worse for the wear. She prevailed swiftly against 2017 BNP Paribas Open champion, Elena Vesnina. With that title in hand, Elena’s hard-court game is solid. Before a very supportive “Caroline” crown, Wozniacki was on point.

Keys d. Kasatkina 6-2 6-1

Kuznetsova d. Yulia Putintseva 6-3 6-4

Camila Giorgi d. Daria Gavrilova 7-6 5-7 6-3

Doubles Highlights

American legends, and world No. 3, the Bryans took out No. 14 Marc Lopez and Feliciano Lopez 6-2 6-3

Sania Mirza (Cincy Doubles Defending Champion with former partner Barbora Strycova) & Shuai Peng d. Julia Goerges & Olga Savchuk

While current No. 5, Martina Hingis & Yung-Jan Chan d. Americans Raquel Atawo & Coco Vandeweghe 6-4 4-6 10-7

While she’s not in the Cincy draw, No. 1 Bethanie Mattek-Sands remains in the minds and hearts of WTA doubles fans, several telling me they are really missing her.

Thursday Schedule Preview

WTA Singles Picks

Stanford Champion Madison Keys takes on Wimbledon Champion, Garbine Muguruza

Climbing her way back, American Sloane Stephens takes on WTA veteran Ekaterina Makarova who defeated Angelique Kerber in a Wednesday marathon.

Aussie qualifier Ashleigh Barty is on a roll and takes on world No. 5, Caroline Wozniacki

Johanna Konta and Dominika Cibulkova face-off in a power dual

WTA classic-Carla Suarez Navarro plays Svetlana Kuznetsova. Whose legs will outlast their opponent?

ATP Singles Picks

In Mason, A “new” Spanish Armanda has formed led by Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer joined by Albert Ramos-Vinolas and Pablo Carreno Busta.

It begins again on center court 1st match of the day, Grigor Dimitrov versus Juan Martin Del Potro. In the late afternoon, two Americans battle to advance, John Isner and NextGen Frances Tiafoe.

Young exuberance versus wisdom, Pablo Carreno Busta faces David Ferrer

Austrian “On Fire” Dominic Thiem vs. Adrian Mannarino who conquered big serving Sam Querrey.

Tower of power match, Nick Kyrgios versus king of longevity Ivo Karlovic

NextGen pair, Japan’s Yuichi Sugita and Russian Karen Khachanov

Doubles is Serious Business on Thursday

Get to courts 4 & 7 early if you want to see the following doubles experts. Both Tuesday and Wednesday, it has been standing room only viewing for fans who fail to heed this warning.

Sania Mirza & Shuai Peng

France favorites, Pierre-Hugues Herbert & Nicolas Mahut

American Rajeev Ram with partner Raven Klassen of South Africa

India’s Rohan Bopanna with partner Ivan Dodig of Croatia

Martina Hingis and teammate Yung-Jan Chan

The Aussie on first in both draws, Ashleigh Barty and country mate Casey Dellacqua

To catch all the action, be on time. Match play begins at 11 AM. Mother nature is also turning up the heat with a forecast high of 87 degrees and 66% humidity. Be prepared to go the distance, hydrate and wear sunscreen.