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World no. 1 Carlos Alcaraz made a winning start in Cincinnati, although he worked hard to achieve it. Carlos toppled Jordan Thompson 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 in three hours and two minutes. Thus, the young Spaniard became the first player with 50 ATP wins this year.
As in Toronto, Alcaraz did not play at his best, spraying too many forehand errors and keeping the rival in contention. Carlos lost serve three times and grabbed five return games from 17 opportunities, enough to emerge at the top.
Jordan fired 29 service winners and rushed to the net over 50 times. He forced a decider but lost steam in the final part to propel the rival through. Thompson fended off four break points in the encounter's third game and grabbed a break at 3-2 with a running forehand winner.
The seventh game saw numerous deuces and five break points for the Spaniard.
Carlos Alcaraz defeated Jordan Thompson in three sets in Cincinnati.
Carlos seized the last one when Jordan netted a routine forehand, pulling the break back and gaining a boost.
They served well in the next three games, locking up the result at 5-5. Alcaraz pushed strong on the return in the 11th game, denying the rival's game points and seizing the third break opportunity after Thompson's loose forehand.
The Spaniard served for the opener at 6-5 and faced a break point. He saved it with a service winner and landed another to wrap up the set 7-5 after an hour and 40 minutes due to rain delays. Jordan served well at the start of the second set and kept the pressure on Carlos.
The Aussie broke at 15 in the sixth game and fired a service winner in the next one to forge a 5-2 advantage. Alcaraz pulled the break back at the last moment in the ninth game and served at 4-5. However, he lost serve again in the tenth game after a loose forehand to hand the set to his rival and introduce a decider.
Carlos made a fresh start in the third set, barely losing a point behind the initial shot and challenging his opponent to repeat that to stay in touch. Jordan lost serve in the first game after a wild forehand, chasing the result right from the start. Carlos delivered another break at 5-3 to emerge at the top and make a winning start.