Cincinnati Open Friday: Ben Shelton, Mirra Andreeva lead ATP, WTA youth movement in Mason

Posted by author August 17, 2024 Tennis

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MASON, Ohio − Many fans left Center Court on a damp Friday afternoon at the Lindner Family Tennis Center after World No. 1 Jannik Sinner never showed up because his opponent, Australia’s Jordan Thompson, withdrew from the Cincinnati Open with a rib injury.

If they did eventually return to the 11,435-seat venue, they may have missed the pure dominance displayed by 21-year-old Ben Shelton.

Moved to Center Court after Sinner’s walkover, Shelton shined on an overcast afternoon, dishing out eight aces and winning 79% of his first serves in a 6-4, 6-3 triumph over Hungary’s Fabian Marozsan.

It was a breakthrough victory in many ways for the Atlanta, Georgia native. Shelton advances to the quarterfinals for the first time in Cincinnati (he lost in the Round of 16 in 2022). He also became the youngest American to reach the quarterfinals in Cincinnati since 2017 (Jared Donaldson).

Lastly, it gives Shelton’s season a significant boost with a second career 1000-level quarterfinal appearance.

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Can he make more history? Shelton has never reached an ATP 1000 semifinal and if you’re really looking ahead, an American man hasn’t won the Cincinnati Open since Andy Roddick in 2006.

The next step in a potential run to the Rookwood Cup comes against someone who has already hoisted the trophy before. Shelton faces 2021 Cincinnati Open champion Alexander Zverev in the quarterfinals Saturday.

Can 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva upset World No. 1 Iga Swiatek?

Shelton is the second-youngest ATP player in the top eight after Holger Rune, who became the first Danish man to reach the Cincinnati quarterfinals. On the WTA side, it’s no secret which youngster is taking the tournament by storm.

Mirra Andreeva, a 17-year-old Russian who lives in France, has been one of the giant-killers in her Mason debut. The World No. 24 beat No. 11 seed Emma Navarro in straights in the first round, then Karolina Pliskova in the Round of 32 before eliminating No. 5 seed Jasmine Paolini 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 on Friday.

Now the first woman under the age of 18 to reach the Cincinnati Open quarterfinals since the WTA returned in 2004, Andreeva now gets World No. 1 Iga Swiatek on Saturday.

More: World No. 1 Iga Swiatek needed a ‘reset.’ The Cincinnati Open is the perfect place for it

Don’t expect Andreeva to shy away from the big stage. After all, she won a silver medal in doubles in the Paris Olympics and reached the French Open semifinals in singles (losing to Paolini) all in the last two months.

Pavlyuchenkova spoils Zheng’s winning streak

There was still room for a veteran amongst a young field in the Cincinnati Open quarterfinals.

World No. 7 Qinwen Zheng had won 12 consecutive matches, a run that included a gold medal in Paris and a WTA 250 title in Italy, heading into Friday’s Center Court showdown, her second match of the day.

Veteran Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, who lost to Maria Sharapova in her first Cincinnati main draw appearance (2010), spoiled the fun with a dominant 7-5, 6-1 victory that took less than 90 minutes.

Pavlyuchenkova is now in the Cincinnati Open quarterfinals for the fourth time and first since 2015. The World No. 28 will meet Paula Badosa on Saturday.

With Zheng’s exit, there are only four seeded players left on the WTA side: Swiatek (No. 1), Aryna Sabalenka (No. 3), Jessica Pegula (No. 6) and Liudmila Samsonova (No. 10).