Kokkinakis/Kyrgios Extend Winning Run In Cincinnati

Thanasi Kokkinakis and Nick Kyrgios started their quest for a third title of the season with a 6-0, 6-4 victory over Simone Bolelli and Fabio Fognini on Monday at the Western & Southern Open.

The Australians, who clinched the Australian Open crown in January, fired eight aces and saved the one break point they faced to advance after 60 minutes. Kokkinakis and Kyrgios have now won their past five matches, after lifting the trophy in Atlanta at the start of August.

They will next face top seeds Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury in a popcorn second-round clash, aiming to improve on their 14-2 record in 2022.

Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares’ love affair with the ATP Masters 1000 hard-court event continued when they edged eighth seeds Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah 4-6, 6-2, 10-7. The British-Brazilian team defeated Cabal and Farah in the 2018 final in Ohio, while they also enjoyed a run to the championship match in 2017.

Murray and Soares will look to build further momentum when they next face Karen Khachanov and Denis Shapovalov.