Croatia’s Borna Coric spoiled Rafael Nadal’s comeback after a five-year absence from Cincinnati by defeating him in the second round 7-6, 4-6, 6-3.
The 36-year-old Spaniard, who won the Cincinnati title in 2013, played his first match more than a month after pulling out with a stomach injury in the Wimbledon semi-finals against Nick Kyrgios.
In the 1/8 finals of Borna Coric will meet with the Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut, who defeated the American Marcos Giron with a score of 6-3, 6-3.
Briton Andy Murray also lost to his compatriot Cameron Norrie 6-3, 3-6, 4-6.
Murray, a two-time Cincinnati champion, needed a massage on his right thigh before he could leave the court after nearly two hours and 45 minutes of wrestling during final preparations for the US Open starting Aug. 29.
American Taylor Fritz defeated Australian Nick Kyrgios 6-3, 6-2, while Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime beat Australian Alex de Minor 6-3 6-2.
Source: El Iktisad