
By Matt Bradshaw, in Cincinnati
- John Isner [14] v Grigor Dimitrov [7]
- Nick Kyrgios v David Ferrer
- Rafael Nadal [1] can’t explain disappointing results in Cincinnati
CINCINNATI, USA – With Rafael Nadal out there is no clear favourite in the men’s semi-finals but still a chance for a veteran Spaniard to win on Sunday.
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Nick Kyrgios stuns Rafael Nadal 6-2 7-5

Photo by AP/REX/Shutterstock
Rafael Nadal Western & Southern Open, Cincinnati 2017
Rafael Nadal started his assault on the Cincinnati title with the confidence of knowing he would regain the world No.1 ranking on Monday. Furthermore the Spaniard knew he would be able to put distance between himself and the likes of Roger Federer and Andy Murray by winning the title here. Unfortunately for Nadal his loss to Nick Kyrgios will prevent him from gaining any real ground in the battle for securing the year-end world No.1 ranking.
“Is true that this tournament is a tournament that didn’t work very well for me during the history of my career. I never had a very good feelings here. I don’t know. The humidity, still don’t like this ball. Still I think needs to improve a lot this ball” Nadal admitted.
The battle to maintain the world No.1 ranking comes to a halt here in Cincinnati but will continue at the US Open which Nadal eagerly looked forwards to in his post match press conference.
“I believe I did the things well enough during the whole year to be ready to compete at the highest level of New York, so I am looking forward to it” he said.
John Isner [14] v Grigor Dimitrov [7] H2H: Isner leads 1-0

Photo by AP/REX/Shutterstock | Grigor Dimitrov, Western & Southern Open, ATP Cincinnati Masters 1000 2017
After a hot start to the year at the Australian Open many tennis fans have been disappointed with Grigor Dimitrov’s 2017 but the Bulgarian has turned it on just in time for the US Open. Dimitrov’s 6-2, 6-1 win over unseeded Yuichi Sugita is surely no massive upset but his wins over big servers like Feliciano Lopez and Juan Martin Del Potro are impressive. Dimitrov will need to draw on his experience taking down those big servers when he plays the biggest server of them all in John Isner on Saturday.
“Of course you see that a lot of the top guys are out of the tournament, but, you know, this is your opportunity. You know you create your own destiny, and I think right now I’m just focused on my side of the court” said Dimitrov in his post-match press conference.

Photo by TANNEN MAURY/EPA/REX/Shutterstock | John Isner, Western & Southern Open, ATP Cincinnati Masters 1000 2017
Isner is yet to drop a set in the tournament but admits he may have to step up his game to take out an in form Dimitrov. Isner leads the head to head with a single win over Dimitrov in 2015 on the hard courts of Miami.
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