Australian Players Kokkinakis, Purcell, and Thompson Triumph in Cincinnati Masters Qualifying

Australia’s tennis players Thanasi Kokkinakis, Max Purcell, and Jordan Thompson have successfully qualified for the main draw of the ATP 1000 Cincinnati Masters. In a hard-fought match, Kokkinakis, ranked 86th in the world, defeated Daniel Elahi Galan of Colombia with a score of 5-7, 7-6 (9-7), 6-2. As a result, he will face world No.17 Hubert Hurkacz from Poland in the first round.

Purcell, ranked 78th, caused an upset by defeating his countryman Alexei Popyrin, who is ranked 56th, with a score of 6-7 (6-8), 7-5, 6-4. Purcell will now play against South Africa’s Lloyd Harris, who is currently ranked 188th.

Thompson, ranked 55th and seeded fourth in the qualifying draw, secured a first-round meeting with American veteran John Isner by defeating Marc-Andrea Huesler of Switzerland with a score of 6-3, 6-4. Isner, standing at an impressive 208cm and 38 years old, received a wildcard entry to the tournament.

Completing the Australian contingent, world No. 12 Alex de Minaur will play against American JJ Wolf in the opening round.

In other first-round matches, US player Frances Tiafoe, seeded 10th, defeated Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands with a score of 6-4, 6-7 (7-9), 6-4. American Ben Shelton defeated Christopher Eubanks, also from the US, with a score of 5-7, 6-4, 6-4. Shelton will now face fourth-seeded Greek player Stefanos Tsitsipas in the round of 32.

Adrian Mannarino of France eliminated his compatriot Richard Gasquet with a score of 6-4, 6-3, while Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka advanced by defeating Gregoire Barrere of France with a score of 6-4, 7-5.

The Cincinnati Masters is an important tournament as players prepare for the upcoming US Open at Flushing Meadows in two weeks’ time.