Day 3 at the Citi Open was full of interesting matches on paper and it didn’t disappoint on both the ATP and WTA side.
Zverev Brothers Setup Day 4 Clash
Mischa and Alexander Zverev will face off on day 4 after the brothers won their singles matches on Wednesday in straight sets. Mischa eased past Tim Smyczek 6-2 7-6 as his serve and volley game was clicking. Defending champion Alexander dominated Malek Jaziri 6-2 6-1 and will enter the round of 16 clash as a heavy favorite. Mischa has won both of their previous tournament matches but neither came at the ATP main draw level.
Next Gen Stars Chung, Shapovalov, and Tsitsipas Win In Three Sets
Hyeon Chung, Denis Shapovalov, and Stefanos Tsitispas are into the next round after surviving challenging contests. Chung needed over 2 and a half hours to put away veteran Marcos Baghdatis 6-7 6-4 6-3 as he struggled a bit on serve but in the end took advantage of the chances he created on return. The players traded breaks late in the first but Baghdatis then dominated the tiebreak. In set 2 it was one way pressure on Baghdatis as he was almost broken at 1-1 and was broken at 3-3, as Chung went on to serve things out. Chung broke to open the third set and then held his nerve from there.
Shapovalov defeated Daniil Medvedev in 2 hours coming back to win 3-6 6-1 6-4 after firing 15 aces and winning 87% of his first serve points. Medvedev got a break in the first set that the Canadian couldn’t claw back but Shapovalov stood up in set 2 and then in the third set came back from a break down 1-4, saving two break points to avoid going down 1-5 and then breaking Medvedev consecutively to reel off five straight games in the final set.
Tsitsipas held off Jared Donaldson 3-6 6-3 7-5 in over 2 hours of play. Donaldson got off to a great start breaking the Greek young gun twice to take the first set. In set 2 Donaldson went a break up but was broken three times from 2-0 to end up in a third set tilt. Donaldson again squandered his chance in the match as he was up a break in the third twice only to surrender it both times as Tsitsipas saved two match points to advance.
Home Heroes Tiafoe and Kudla Advance
Anytime Frances Tiafoe and Denis Kudla can win in Washington the joy is palpable for both themselves and their friends, family, and fans. Neither player faced much trouble as Tiafoe won 6-2 6-4 over Hubert Hurkacz. The Polish player struggled on serve and Tiafoe avoided trouble on his own serve not allowing Hurkacz to get back into the match.
Kudla defeated the ATP top 40 player Karen Khachanov in an upset 6-2 6-3. Khachanov’s second serve was a massive weakness as Kudla feasted on return.
Murray Wins Another Battle
Andy Murray fans are getting their money’s worth at the Citi Open this week. For the second straight match Murray went the distance this time against his friend and British #1 Kyle Edmund 7-6 1-6 6-4 in two and a half hours. It was a match where Edmund had every chance but simply couldn’t take advantage of the opportunity presented. Edmund saved a set point at 4-5 but then failed to close out the first set after a break, meaning a tiebreak was the result, a breaker that Murray just edged out. Murray simply put played a poor second set but in the third he regained his focus. Edmund didn’t get a shot at breaking him and Edmund’s last two service games were poor, in the end he was broken to lose the match. Edmund had some success taking advantage of Murray’s rusty footwork at times, but the former top 5 player was able to advance forward and hit winners.
ATP Day 3 Wrap-Up and Day 4 Preview
On day 3 Marius Copil upset Jeremy Chardy 6-4 6-4, Tommy Paul defeated Alex Bolt 3-6 7-6 6-2. Lucas Pouille won via retirement against Vincent Millot 6-7 6-4 3-0. David Goffin edged Pierre-Hugues Herbert 6-2 1-6 7-6, while another top player, Kei Nishikori defeated Donald Young 6-3 6-4. James Duckworth battled past Jason Kubler, Kubler replaced the injured Nick Kyrgios in the draw as Duckworth won 1-6 6-2 7-6.
On Thursday the Alex De Minaur vs. Steve Johnson and Tommy Paul vs. Andrey Rublev matches will be completed. De Minaur is serving for the first set 5-4 while Rublev is up a set on Paul.
The remaining matches are Noah Rubin vs. John Isner, David Goffin vs. Frances Tiafoe, James Duckworth vs. Stefanos Tsitsipas, Alexander vs. Mischa Zverev, Denis Shapovalov vs. Kei Nishikori, Lucas Pouille vs. Denis Kudla, and Andy Murray vs. Marius Copil.
Petkovic Reaches Quarterfinals
Andrea Petkovic upset Sloane Stephens to reach the quarterfinals, the remaining quarterfinals will be set on Thursday. In other WTA action Bonaventure defeated Kalinina, Zheng defeated Swan, Linette defeated Rogowska, and Brady defeated Vikhlyantseva.
On Thursday Bonaventure faces Zheng, Stollar faces Vekic, Bencic takes on Hibino, Putinseva battles Brady, Osaka faces Linette, and Kuznetsova takes on Bogdan. Additionally Allie Kiick will complete her match against Boulter up a set and 4-4.
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