Mason - Arab Today
Rafael Nadal and top-ranked Karolina Pliskova were doing double duty Friday at the WTA and ATP Cincinnati Masters, preparing for quarter-final matches after afternoon victories. Spain's Nadal, assured of being men's world number one come Monday for the first time since July 2014, defeated compatriot Albert Ramos-Vinolas 7-6 (7/1), 6-2 to book a night matchup with troubled Australian Nick Kyrgios. Czech defending champion Pliskova, fighting second-ranked Simona Halep to remain world number one, ousted Italian qualifier Camila Giorgi 6-3, 4-6, 6-0 in another of five matches postponed from Thursday due to rain. Pliskova faced a short-rest before a quarter-final against fifth-rated Dane Caroline Wozniacki at the last major tuneup for the US Open. Both Nadal and Ramos-Vinolas wore black ribbons on their shirts in memory of victims of the terror attack Thursday in Barcelona
Source: AFP