Stephens gone on a rainy Ohio day

Rain destroyed virtually all of Thursday’s daytime play in the Western & Southern Open, hosted by wet and miserable Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.

In a small gap of blue sky, Simona Halep (1) managed to eke out a break of qualifier Ajla Tomljanovic’s serve, and then proceed next game to a second round win 4-6 6-3 6-3.

Tomljanovic was yet another victim of the Halep signature comeback, having been initially ahead by a set, then 3-0 in the deciding third stanza. Halep will play Ash Barty (16) in the third round.

In the evening, rain moved away from the tennis for awhile and allowed a number of matches to occur.

WTA Premier 5:

Second round

• Teenage US wildcard Amanda Anisimova defeated qualifier Petra Martic 6-4 6-3, completing their match delayed from overnight.

Amanda is the second highest ranked 16 year old in the world, but has closed the gap on the Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk to just five spots - at the beginning of the week it was 42 places.

It doesn’t come any easier for Amanda as she faces Elina Svitolina (5) in the third round.

Third round

• Lesia Tsurenko defeated Ekaterina Makarova 7-6(5) 6-2, after she trailed in the first set 1-4
• Madison Keys (13) defeated Angie Kerber (4), also after giving up a significant start, 2-6 7-6(3) 6-4
• In another three setter, rising Belarusian star, 20 year old Aryna Sabalenka, chalked up another victim of the top ten variety, to add to her impressive CV.  Caroline Garcia (6) served for the match after dropping the opening set, but Sabalenka broke back at 4-5, and ran out the final three games to win 6-4 3-6 7-5.  She will play Madison Keys in the quarter finals 
• Petra Kvitová (8) defeated Kiki Mladenovic 6-4 6-2
• Sloane Stephens (3) had multiple chances to take the opening set, but just couldn’t seal it.  Subsequently Elise Mertens (15) took out the tie break - again coming from behind - and careered away to a great win 7-6(8) 6-2.  Petra Kvitova (8) awaits her in the quarter finals 

Rain interrupted the following third round match:

• Anett Kontaveit v Kiki Bertens - at 3-6 4-1

Play recommenced but only for a few minutes before it bucketed down and play was suspended for the day leaving it at that scoreline.

Matches due to be played on Thursday but not even started were:

Simona Halep (1) v Ash Barty (16) 

Elina Svitolina (5) v wildcard Amanda Anisimova 

Now rescheduled for Friday.

ATP Masters 1000:

Second round 

• The final match to finish off the second round, was the one scheduled for Wednesday, but unable to be started.  Today Juan Martin del Potro (4) began and stopped in just 80 minutes to eliminate Hyeon Chung 6-2 6-3

Third round

• Milos Raonic defeated fellow Canadian Denis Shapovalov 7-6(6) 6-4
• Pablo Carreno Busta (13) defeated Robin Haase 6-4 6-2

Rain interrupted the following third round matches:

• Novak Djokovic (10) v Grigor Dimitrov (5) at 2-6 6-3
• Marton Fucsovics v wildcard Stan Wawrinka at 0-1
• Karen Khachanov v Marin Cilic (7) at 6-7(5) 6-3 0-1

Play recommenced but only for a few minutes, enough for Djokovic to sneak a break of serve and lead 2-6 6-3 2-1

Wawrinka extended his advantage to 2-1

Khachanov levelled the third set at 1-1

Matches due to be played on Thursday but not even started were:

Kevin Anderson (6) v David Goffin (11)

Nick Kyrgios (15) v Juan Martin del Potro (4)

Leonardo Mayer v Roger Federer (2)

Now rescheduled for Friday.

Winners on Friday of the delayed matches will have to play two matches in the one day, the second a quarter final.