Injury woes for Rune as McDonald progresses in Cincinnati Open

Thursday, 17 August 2023 at 01:07

Mackenzie McDonald advanced to the second round of the Western & Southern Open after Holger Rune's injury withdrawal.

The young Danish player began the US swing with a surprising loss to the world No. 54 Marcos Giron in the second round of the Canadian Open. As the sixth seed, Rune received a bye in the first round and faced wild card entry Mackenzie McDonald, ranked world No. 43, who defeated Yannik Hanfmann 7-5, 6-1 in the opening round.

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McDonald had achieved his best result in a Masters 1000 event by reaching the quarterfinals of the Canadian Open, eliminating Aslan Karatsev, Andrey Rublev, and Milos Raonic along the way, but he fell to Spanish player Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.

In the first set, both players held their serves strongly, and no break points were played until 4-4 when McDonald capitalized on his second opportunity to secure the break and then closed out the set on his serve.

With the advantage in his favor, he began the second set with another break against Rune and then comfortably held his service game to take a commanding lead.

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In the final game, Rune struggled with mobility, and after completing the game, he informed the chair umpire about his retirement from the match. As a result, McDonald progressed to the third round for the third time this year in a Masters 1000 draw.

In total, McDonald recorded 14 winners and only 4 unforced errors, compared to Rune's 10 winners with 8 unforced errors. Furthermore, the American did not concede any break points to his opponent and won 72% of his service points, against Rune's mere 48%, who gave away three break points, all of which were seized by his rival.

Additionally, his victory ensured a rise in the rankings, reaching the highest position of his career at No. 39 in the live rankings.

In the third round, McDonald will face Adrian Mannarino, who secured victories over Richard Gasquet and the 12th seed Felix Auger Aliassime.

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Unfortunately Holger Rune has been forced to retire due to injury, sending Mackie McDonald through with the victory, 6-4 2-0 RET #CincyTennis

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10:59 PM · Aug 16, 2023

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Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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