Reilly Opelka leads winning American contingent at Cincinnati

Americans had their way throughout Friday's action at the Cincinnati Open, with Reilly Opelka leading a group of five early winners in the first round.

Opelka defeated Bolivia's Hugo Dellien 7-5, 7-6 (3). The 6-foot-11 Opelka smashed 15 aces past Dellien as he prepares for the U.S. Open, where he will partner with Venus Williams in the mixed doubles draw.

Opelka -- seeking his first tournament win at the ATP 1000 level and his first of any kind since the U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships in April 2022 -- also saved all five break points he faced and finished with 31 winners to just six unforced errors.

Ethan Quinn joined Opelka in the next round by taking down top-50 player Miomir Kecmanovic of Serbia 7-6 (5), 6-4. Tristan Boyer defeated Brandon Holt 6-3, 7-6 (3) in a battle of American wild cards.

Wild card Jenson Brooksby pushed past France's Alexandre Muller 7-6 (2), 5-7, 6-1 in two hours and 39 minutes. Brooksby won 11 of 13 points at the net and saved 8 of 11 break points.

Capping off the quintet of American winners, qualifier Emilio Nava beat Borna Coric of Croatia 6-3, 7-5. Coric was the Cincinnati champion in 2022, but the day belonged to the Los Angeles native who's projected to push into the top 100 in the world rankings thanks to his victory.

Belgium's Alexander Blockx, 20, earned his first ATP Tour match win by beating Marcos Giron 6-2, 3-6, 6-3. Blockx hit eight aces to Giron's one and doubled up his more experienced opponent in total winners (32-16).

Other winners Friday included Argentina's Francisco Comesana and Camilo Ugo Carabelli, Italy's Luca Nardi, Australia's Adam Walton, Serbian Hamad Medjedovic and Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut.

Five matches remained Friday night.