Roger Federer began his US Open preparation with a comprehensive 6-4, 6-4 defeat of Peter Gojowczyk in a first ATP Cincinnati Masters appearance since 2015.

The 20-time Grand Slam champion who turned 37 last week, is pacing his tennis year to maintain the longevity of his career, playing a limited schedule and missing events when he feels the need to rest. He had missed the last two editions through injuries.

The defeat of the 47th-ranked German began his run for a possible eighth title at the tournament. It took just 72 minutes.

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The contest was the first for the Swiss since losing to Kevin Anderson in five sets in the Wimbledon quarter-finals on July 11.

Eighth seed Dominic Thiem was forced to withdraw without hitting a ball due to illness.

The Austrian has played just one losing match last week in Toronto on the hardcourts since making a late switch from post-Wimbledon clay.

This year has been tough: Kyrgios

Nick Kyrgios served 39 aces, including one to save match point, to power into the second round with a dramatic 6-7 (2/7), 7-5, 7-6 (11/9) win over Denis Kudla.

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Last year’s losing finalist finally saw off the American on his sixth match point.

The Australian will next face Croatian Borna Coric, who beat Daniil Medvedev 6-2, 6-3.

But Kyrgios admitted that his chronic hip problems are starting to become a worry.

“This year has been tough. I started the year very well. Then obviously I hurt my elbow. Then I had an ongoing hip injury,” he said.

“We have been definitely thinking about the options with my hip. There is only so much you can do before you have to, I guess, get surgery or something like that.

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“Right now I’m just managing it. Obviously I’m feeling my right knee because I’m favouring my left side of my body a little bit.

“I’m just trying to get through it. The physio has been helping me. I’ve been doing rehab every day. I’m doing everything I can.

“As long as I can serve, I have a good chance to win still.”

The 23-year-old has struggled since Wimbledon, retiring from his second-round match against Cameron Norrie in Atlanta before losing at the first hurdle to Stan Wawrinka in last week’s Rogers Cup.

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But the world number 18 dug deep against Kudla after losing a first-set tie-break, saving three break points in game 11 of the second set, before levelling the match on his third set point and winning a thrilling deciding breaker.

Ran out of gas

Weekend Toronto finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas ran out of gas in a 7-5, 6-3 loss to Belgian 11th seed David Goffin.

South Korea’s Chung Hyeon rallied past a struggling Jack Sock for a 2-6, 6-1, 6-2 victory.

Chung handed the slumping American an eighth straight defeat, with Sock’s last win coming in the opening round at Rome three months ago.

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Unseeded Milos Raonic advanced past Serb Dusan Lajovic 6-3, 6-3 at the combined ATP and WTA event, the last major tune-up prior to the US Open on August 27.

Men’s results

SECOND ROUND

Leonardo Mayer (ARG) bt Lucas Pouille (FRA x16) 7-6 (9/7), 6-4

Roger Federer (SUI x2) bt Peter Gojowczyk (GER) 6-4, 6-4

FIRST ROUND

Milos Raonic (CAN) bt Dusan Lajovic (SRB) 6-3, 6-3

Robin Haase (NED) bt Filip Krajinovic (SRB) 4-6, 6-2, 6-3

Karen Khachanov (RUS) bt Albert Ramos-Vinolas (ESP) 2-6, 6-3, 6-2

Marius Copil (ROU) bt Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) 6-4, 6-2

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Nick Kyrgios (AUS x15) bt Denis Kudla (USA) 6-7 (2/7), 7-5, 7-6 (11/9)

Borna Coric (CRO) bt Daniil Medvedev (RUS) 6-2, 6-3

Chung Hyeon (KOR) bt Jack Sock (USA) 2-6, 6-1, 6-2

David Goffin (BEL x11) bt Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) 7-5, 6-3

Marton Fucsovics (HUN) bt Hubert Hurkacz (POL) 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (8/6)

Mischa Zverev (GER) bt Damir Dzumhur (BIH) 6-3, 6-4