Rafael Nadal’s first match since pulling out of the Wimbledon semi-finals due to harm resulted in defeat by the hands of Croatian Borna Coric on the Cincinnati Open.
The Spaniard, 36, misplaced 7-6 (9-7) 4-6 6-3 to the world quantity 152.
Nadal has spent six weeks recovering from the belly muscle harm and the defeat within the round-of-32 match is a blow to his US Open preparations.
The yr’s last Grand Slam occasion will get beneath method on 29 August.
“By way of New York, it is a Grand Slam, a distinct sort of match,” mentioned Nadal, who has gained the US Open in 2010, 2013, 2017 and 2019.
“I used to be solely in a position to play two units earlier than this match within the final 40 days.
“I do know that to achieve situation, I must be on the tour practising with the fellows.”
American Taylor Fritz, who Nadal beat within the Wimbledon quarter-finals, defeated Australian Nick Kyrgios 6-3 6-2 to achieve the third spherical.
Fritz then criticised the ATP Tour’s off-court teaching trial, saying permitting gamers to obtain directions throughout a match went in opposition to the thought of tennis being a person sport.
“It is a dumb rule,” mentioned the world quantity 13.
“Why are we making it not a person sport? An enormous a part of tennis is as a lot psychological as it’s bodily, and an enormous a part of it’s you might want to be figuring it out on the court docket for your self.
“I believe it is ridiculous you can be mentally not there, not good analytically, not good at sort of working via issues and arising with methods, and you may have somebody let you know what to do. I hate it.”
Fritz will subsequent play sixth seed Andrey Rublev after the Russian beat Italy’s Fabio Fognini 6-7 (7-9) 7-6 (7-3) 6-2.
Greek fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas gained 6-3 6-4 in opposition to Serbian Filip Krajinovic whereas Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz misplaced to American John Isner 7-6 (7-5) 6-7 (7-5) 6-2.
Elsewhere, Canada’s seventh seed Felix Auger-Aliassime defeated Australian Alex de Minaur 6-3 6-2 and compatriot Denis Shapovalov fought again to win 3-6 6-4 6-3 in opposition to American Tommy Paul.
Shapovalov will subsequent tackle world primary Daniil Medvedev subsequent whereas Auger-Aliassime faces Italian Jannik Sinner.
