Walton Stuns Medvedev in Cincinnati Tennis Upset
It’s been quite a rollercoaster for Australian tennis fans at the Cincinnati Open. The day started with a jolt as Alex de Minaur, riding high from recent hard-court success, was unexpectedly stopped in his tracks. The man responsible? None other than Reilly Opelka, the towering American known for his booming serve and imposing 211-centimetre frame.
De Minaur had entered the match with a perfect 5–0 record against Opelka, so confidence was high. But the heat on court was matched by Opelka’s blistering form. He didn’t just hold serve—he obliterated it—firing down 14 aces and 38 winners, all while saving every single one of the seven break points he faced. The bounce from his serve was so high that de Minaur was often forced to take the ball above shoulder height. After a tense first-set tiebreak that Opelka edged 8–6, momentum shifted, and the American closed it out 7-6, 6-4 in just over an hour and forty minutes. For the world number eight, who leads the ATP Tour in hard-court wins this season, it was a sharp reminder of how quickly fortunes can change, just weeks out from the US Open.
Also Read:- Machado’s Hidden Ball Trick Backfires but Padres Still Prevail
- Rahm’s Ryder Cup Fate Hinges on Donald’s Wildcard Decisions
But while one Aussie star fell, another rose spectacularly. Adam Walton, ranked just 85th in the world, pulled off the biggest win of his career by defeating former world number one Daniil Medvedev. The Russian, a 2021 US Open champion, looked in control early, taking the first set in a flawless 7–0 tiebreak. Most players might have folded at that point—but Walton did the opposite. He found another gear, breaking Medvedev’s rhythm to take the second set 6–4. From there, the underdog was unleashed, storming through the final set 6–1 to complete a remarkable turnaround. It was their first-ever meeting, and it ended with Walton booking himself a third-round showdown against Czech 22nd seed Jiri Lehecka.
Adding to the positive news for Australia, Alexei Popyrin—celebrating his debut as a top-20 player—claimed a solid straight-sets win over Spanish teenager Martin Landaluce, setting up a clash with Russia’s Andrey Rublev.
Still, the mixed results left Aussie fans with contrasting emotions—excitement for Walton’s breakthrough, pride in Popyrin’s steady progress, but concern over de Minaur’s disrupted preparation. For Opelka, it was vindication: after five straight losses to de Minaur, he finally found the formula, crediting his consistency from the baseline and unexpectedly strong returning game for the victory.
Now all eyes turn to the next round. Can Walton ride the wave of his giant-killing momentum? Will de Minaur regroup in time for New York? One thing’s for sure—the road to the US Open has already thrown up its share of surprises, and the ride is far from over.
Read More:
0 Comments