The opening rounds of the Cincinnati Open produced fireworks on Monday as young talents grabbed the spotlight and top seeds were sent packing in dramatic fashion.
The biggest shock came from Adam Walton, who stunned former world No. 1 Daniil Medvedev with a resilient performance that ended in a three-set upset. Walton, ranked outside the Top 100, showcased fearless hitting and remarkable composure, breaking Medvedev’s rhythm with timely aggression. The victory marks the Australian’s most significant career win to date and leaves the draw wide open in Medvedev’s section.
Meanwhile, Carlos Alcaraz had to dig deep in his clash with Bosnia’s Damir Dzumhur. The Spaniard raced through the opening set but was pegged back as Dzumhur found his range and forced a decider. In the final set, Alcaraz raised his level, sealing a 6-1, 2-6, 6-3 win. The reigning Wimbledon champion admitted afterwards that the match was “a rollercoaster,” but expressed relief at advancing after weathering the momentum swings.
Another rising star making waves was Luca Nardi, who battled past Denis Shapovalov in a tense encounter. After narrowly dropping the opening set in a tiebreak, the Italian displayed maturity beyond his years to rally back for a 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4 victory. Nardi, competing as an alternate, continues to seize his opportunity on the big stage, reinforcing his reputation as one of the ATP’s brightest young prospects.
With Walton’s upset, Alcaraz’s gritty survival, and Nardi’s statement win, Monday’s play set the tone for a week that promises unpredictability and breakthrough moments at one of the tour’s marquee Masters 1000 events.
