Monfils upsets Norrie in Cincinnati, Ons Jabeur through

CINCINNATI: An inspired Gael Monfils applied the finishing touches to a British exodus at the Cincinnati Open on Tuesday with a 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 defeat of 13th seed Cameron Norrie.

The veteran French showman got his left knee wrapped in the opening set of the first-round match and took confidence from encouraging words from the physio to secure the win which left Britain 0-3 on the day here.

The rush to the exits began with the withdrawal of Andy Murray due to an existing abdominal injury dating to last week in Toronto.

Meanwhile on court, Lorenzo Musetti defeated Dan Evans 6-4, 6-3 before Monfils staged his comeback victory against British NO. 1  Norrie.

Monfils has been on a tear in recent days, reaching last week’s Toronto quarterfinals as his long return from knee problems gains momentum.

The 36-year-old took down Norrie thanks in part to 41 errors from the world No. 15.

“I was quite upset with my knee, but the ATP physio helped me a lot,” Monfils said of his taping after the seventh game of the opening set.

“I could push off on it and he told me I could not do any damage; he secured my head.”

Monfils broke Norrie twice in each of the last two sets, finishing with a service winner.

“I’m getting better, playing and having fun,” the Frenchman said. “I believed more and here I am — I won the match,” he said.

Elsewhere Tuesday, Alexander Zverev defeated fellow former tournament champion Grigor Dimitrov 6-2, 6-2.

Germany’s Zverev, the 16th seed, claimed the title at his last participation in 2021 while Dimitrov lifted the trophy in 2017.

A year ago, Zverev was healing from ankle surgery following a serious injury at Roland Garros.

The 25-year-old is hoping to turbocharge his hardcourt game after falling in the