Cincy top seeds split the difference

Cincinnati Masters top seeds headed in different directions on Thursday as Daniil Medvedev advanced while Iga Swiatek slid to the sidelines.

The top ATP player reached the quarter-finals of the last major US Open run-up event, keeping Denis Shapovalov winless against a world number one through a 7-5, 7-5 victory.

Poland’s Swiatek who ran off 37 straight wins along with six titles this season, lost on a fifth match point to 2019 champion Madison Keys 6-3, 6-4.

Medvedev reached a first-time meeting with on-form American Taylor Fritz, with the 11th seed booking his spot 6-7(4), 6-2, 7-5 over sixth seed Andrey Rublev.

“It was a fight today, definitely not easy,” said Medvedev, who will take the top US Open ranking after the loss here of Rafael Nadal in the second round 

“The match was pretty tight, played at a great level. My goal was to stay in every point possible and try to put pressure on him if I had the chance.”

He added: “In general, I managed to be pretty constant. I got a lot of break opportunities and served pretty well.

“I’m happy with my level and looking forward to the next matches.”

Croat Borna Coric followed up his upset of second seed Nadal, coming back to the court less than 18 hours after his success to defeat another Spaniard in Roberto Bautista Agut 6-2, 6-3.

Greek fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, semi-finalist at the last two editions, moved into the last eight 6-3, 6-3 as he put out Argentine Diego Schwartzman.

Unseeded Keys had lost both of her previous matches to Swiatek. .

“I’ve obviously not had the best success against world No. 1s,” she said.
“To get a win against Iga means a lot to me. 

“I think I’m playing some pretty good tennis.”

Swiatek lost serve five times and trailed a set and 5-0 before an aborted fightback.

She lost for a second week in a third round, duplicating her fate last week in Toronto..

Keys now plays Wimbledon winner Elena Rybakina, who advanced to the last eight 6-2, 6-4 over Alison Riske-Amritraj. Estonian second seed Anett Kontaveit exited shortly after Swiaek, a victim of China’s Zhang Shuai 2-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Czech Petra Kvitova put out Wimbledon finalist Ons Jabeur 6-1, 4-6, 6-0, repeating her victory of a year ago here.

Main photo:- Daniil Medvedev celebrates victory – by Mike Lawrence/ATPTour.com