Cincinnati Open: Paris Olympics women’s silver medallist Vekic knocked out by Krueger, Fritz also upset

Shelton, Nakashima and Krueger were among five Americans who advanced on Tuesday in the hard-court tuneup for the US Open. Alex Michelsen and Frances Tiafoe also moved on.

FILE PHOTO: Croatia’s Donna Vekic shows her silver medal after losing to China’s Zheng Qinwen in the Women’s Singles tennis final at the Roland Garros stadium at the 2024 Summer Olympics. | Photo Credit: AP

Donna Vekic was defeated in her first match since winning the silver medal in the Olympics, falling to Ashlyn Krueger 5-7, 7-6 (4), 6-2 on Tuesday at the Cincinnati Open.

Krueger played her win into the field through the qualifying rounds, where she defeated Naomi Osaka. The American then opened her first appearance in the main draw in Cincinnati by knocking off Vekic, the No. 16 seed from Croatia who lost to Zheng Qinwen in the women’s gold-medal match in Paris.

On the men’s side, Brandon Nakashima upset No. 11 seed Taylor Fritz 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (4), while No. 12 Ben Shelton edged Reilly Opelka 7-6 (3), 7-6 (3) in another All-American matchup.

Shelton, Nakashima and Krueger were among five Americans who advanced on Tuesday in the hard-court tuneup for the US Open. Alex Michelsen and Frances Tiafoe also moved on.

The only other seeded competitor to advance in men’s action was No. 14 Lorenzo Musetti of Italy, the bronze medalist in Paris who outlasted Chile’s Nicolas Jarry 4-6, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (4).

Ninth-seeded Daria Kasatkina and No. 15 Marta Kostyuk were the women’s seeded winners.

Both No. 1 seeds play their opening matches on Wednesday. Jannik Sinner of Italy takes on Michelsen in the afternoon, while Iga Swiatek faces Varvara Gracheva in a night match.