Alexander Zverev gets the better of Grigor Dimitrov in Cincinnati, Novak Djokovic loses in doubles on US return

Alexander Zverev made a strong start at the Cincinnati Masters as he swept past Grigor Dimitrov 6-2 6-2 to advance to the second round.

The 2021 winner converted four of eight break points as he completed the victory in one hour and 12 minutes.

“I think I adjusted to the conditions a bit better and maybe was a bit more patient than him as well, but always when you play against Grigor, especially in the early rounds, it’s very dangerous,” said the 16th-seed Zverev.

“He’s somebody that hits the ball very hard, a very aggressive player, and you have to be there all the time. I was, from start to finish, and I’m very happy with that.”

Zverev, who will meet Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka in the next round, added: “I think patience is one thing, but the other is people struggle with their serve a bit more [in the wind], so you have to keep focusing on the games that you are in.

“Especially against Grigor, he’s serving 135 or 140 mile per hour serves, there are a lot of games that he will just go through and you have no chance. So being patient and just focusing on yourself [is key].”

In the doubles draw, Novak Djokovic made his first appearance in the USA in nearly two players as he played with fellow Serb Nikola Cacic.

Djokovic has not played in North America since losing in the 2021 US Open final as he has been unable to enter the USA or Canada until vaccination laws changed earlier this year.

His return to action pitted him and Cacic against doubles specialists Jaime Murray and Michael Venus.

It was Murray and Venus who came through 6-4 6-2 to advance at the tournament.

Djokovic plays his first singles match on Wednesday.

Home favourites Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul are safely through to the second round but Sebastian Korda is out.

Fritz progressed with a 7-6(14) 6-2 win over Czech Republic’s Jiri Lehecka after triumphing in a thrilling 19-minute tie-break and will now face Lorenzo Sonego or qualifier Alexander Shevchenko.

Fritz, who won the first-set tie-break 16-14 having saved five set points, said: “The courts are fast and bouncy…everything wants to fly and on top of that, everything is super windy. I was just trying to put the ball in court.”

Canadian Open semi-finalist Paul overcame Miomir Kecmanovic 7-5 7-6(2) in one our and 54 minutes to set up a second-round match with either Ugo Humbert or Arthur Fils.

Defending champion Borna Coric recorded a 7-6(5) 6-4 win over Korda 7-6(5), 6-4.

Rain ended play on Monday night with Coric 7-6(5) 4-3 ahead and the Croatian came back to emerge victorious in style.

Dan Evans, who recently won the Citi Open, crashed out following a 4-6 3-6 defeat to Lorenzo Musetti.