MANILA, Philippines – Tennis fans may be getting another teaser of the International Premier Tennis League in a opening-round match in Cincinnati.
Philippine Maverick Richard Gasquet and Singapore Slammer Nick Kyrgios are set for a tussle 11 p.m. Wednesday at the Western & Southern Open men's singles.
Gasquet, who has won his last two outings against Kyrgios -- including a gritty match in the recent French Open -- will look to reprise a brilliant showing. Having been able to go far at the All England Club in Wimbledon, momentum is on Gasquet's side.
But his Aussie foe, who is also a right-handed netter, will try bring his explosiveness on the hard-surface court.
Kyrgios will try to lean on his experience in giving big-name players in Stan Wawrinka and John Isner a hard time at the Canadian Masters; Milos Raonic in the Wimbledon; and even Roger Federer in the Madrid Open.
The Western & Southern Open is more commonly known as the Cincinnati Open -- one of the many warm-up events leading to the US Open.
The World No. 13 Maverick will also try to bounce back from losing to American Jack Sock in the Rogers Cup.
Kyrgios, for his part, is carefully taking it one step after another in the ATP ladder. He has been up four levels. He is now 37th.
The two athletes are highly likely to meet again in the dynamic tournament IPTL, which is scheduled later this year.
The Gasquet-Kyrgios clash will be followed by another singles match that will feature another Maverick in Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
(Sources from Philstar.com and Philippinemavericks.com)