If you didn’t see this coming, or some kind of move in that direction, click “Follow Mcshow Blog.” Even if you did, click and follow 😉

We predicted this, more or less, last night.

We’ll see what happens in Cincy, but I have to imagine he has little interest in going very deep there. His draw is potentially toxic, which seems almost a fix given that he has to prefer a little more rest before NYC. He has the Toronto “warm-up” in the bag. Lose in the R16 or QF in Cincy and find that other gear in practice that he’ll need. I can hear his camp from here.

Certainly a bold move, but a smart one. The hay is in the barn; time to hunker down. Nadal is in very good shape at this point. Ironically, he’ll probably work harder in practice, in preparation for NYC than he would if he was playing Cincy.

Decent tennis on tap today in Cincinnati. Nishikori took care of Rublev in straights (saying his name –Rublev — tires me out, the poor guy’s game just a manic coil of aggression on the BL. He made QF at U.S. Open last year in the weakest draw of all time, but he looks perhaps a bit worn-out at this point).

Pouille is putting it to Murray in the first set 4-1.

Djokovic plays later as well as Tiafoe v Shapovalov (maybe must watch). Wawrinka is also in action.

Happy Monday.