Francisco Comesana advanced to the third round at the Cincinnati Masters after Luciano Darderi retired with a lower back issue while trailing in their second-round match at the Lindner Family Tennis Center. Comesana, ranked No. 71, led 6-4, 3-1 when Darderi, the No. 29 seed and ranked No. 34, called for a medical timeout as he was about to serve at 4-5.
The Argentine will meet the winner of the match between Australian Alex De Minaur, the No. 6 seed, and American Reilly Opelka in the next round. Comesana had reached this stage by beating Spaniard Jaume Munar 6-4, 6-4 in the previous round.
The Cincinnati Masters 1000 is played on hard courts at the Lindner Family Tennis Center, with prize money of USD 9,193,540.
Additional context and notes for editors:
– Darderi’s retirement shaped the result; no completed game in the deciding moments of the match.
– The next opponent will be determined by the De Minaur vs Opelka match, setting up a potential clash between a solid baseline player and a powerful server.
– This continues Comesana’s solid run in Cincinnati, building momentum ahead of the late rounds.
Possible angles to add in follow-up:
– If Comesana wins, his momentum could translate into further success in the Masters 1000 event and help raise his profile in hard-court events.
– A potential matchup with De Minaur would hinge on De Minaur’s aggressive baseline play and serve, providing a contrast in styles for the next round.