[1/2] Aug 15, 2023; Mason, OH, USA; Taylor Fritz, of the United States, reacts to scoring a point against Jiri Lehecka, of Czech Republic, during the Western & Southern Open at Lindner Family Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Albert Cesare-USA TODAY Sports Acquire Licensing RightsAug 15 (Reuters) - Defending champion Borna Coric battled past American Sebastian Korda 7-6(5) 6-4 in the Cincinnati Open first round on Tuesday, as Taylor Fritz survived a first-set thriller to beat Czech Jiri Lehecka 7-6(14) 6-2. Korda, who has suffered a handful of early exits since reaching the Queen's Club semi-finals, appeared to have the edge as he converted a break point in the third game. Earlier on Tuesday, top American Fritz mustered all of his resources in an epic 30-point first set tiebreak with Lehecka. The momentum belonged to Fritz in the second set, though, when he never faced a break point and won all but one of his first-serve points.

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Persons: Taylor Fritz, Jiri Lehecka, Albert Cesare, Borna Coric, Sebastian Korda, Czech Jiri Lehecka, Croatian Coric, Korda, Coric, Hubert Hurkacz, Fritz, Monte, Amy Tennery, Ken Ferris Organizations: & Southern, Lindner, Tennis Center, Cincinnati, Monte Carlo, Thomson Locations: Mason, OH, USA, United States, Czech Republic, Czech, Croatian, Toronto, Cincinnati, New York