Cincinnati: Newly crowned Toronto Masters champion Ben Shelton is set to begin his journey at the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Open against Argentine Camilo Ugo Carabelli. Ugo Carabelli secured his place in the match by defeating Kei Nishikori 7-5, 6-3 on Friday.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, world number seven Shelton arrived in the Midwest on a private jet, fresh off his first Masters 1000 victory in Toronto. Shelton is entering the tournament with a first-round bye, marking it as the final major preparation before the US Open starts on August 25.
Ugo Carabelli, currently ranked 47th, outperformed Nishikori, a 2014 US Open finalist, who struggled with 42 unforced errors and lost serve five times. Nishikori was playing for the first time since an injury-forced retirement in Geneva in mid-May. Ugo Carabelli has shown his prowess on clay, reaching four semi-finals this season.
As the fifth seed in Cincinnati, Shelton, at 22, is poised to be a strong contender for a consecutive title win. He expressed optimism after his Toronto victory, saying, “I hope that this week kick starts me and gets me more consistent with the type of tennis that I want to play day-in and day-out.” He emphasized the need to work harder and refine his game against top competitors.
The ATP-WTA tournament schedule, with its consecutive 12-day events, poses a challenge to players’ fitness levels. Some top players, including Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner, have voiced support for a return to the traditional one-week tournament format.
In other tournament news, Borna Coric, last year’s champion, was defeated in the first round by American qualifier Emilio Nava with scores of 6-3, 7-5. Coric has not won an ATP-level match in 2025, his last victory being at the United Cup in Australia in December.
In the WTA section, Caroline Garcia, a former top 10 player from France planning to retire this year, made a comeback, defeating Briton Sonay Kartal 5-7, 6-4, 6-3. After battling through the heat and a challenging match, Garcia reflected on her determination to continue despite exhaustion. She expressed gratitude for the support she received and is set to compete in the US Open with a wild card entry, marking her final tournament.
French player Leolia Jeanjean also advanced with a 7-5, 1-6, 6-4 victory over Yulia Starodubtseva. Meanwhile, American Taylor Townsend handed Danielle Collins her fourth first-round loss in Cincinnati.