Caty McNally overcame nerves to win opener at hometown Cincinnati Open.
As the sun glimmered against the horizon, a wild card and qualifier took the Grandstand Court at the Lindner Family Tennis Center. Swaths of fans followed them to see the WTA No. 104.
It was Caty McNally’s homecoming.
Playing in her home region professionally for the first time since 2022, the Madeira native fist-pumped her way to victory over qualifier and WTA No. 153 Maddison Inglis, 6-2, 6-3 Aug. 8.
The event was meaningful to McNally, who returned to the court for the first time since 2022 after dealing with an elbow injury that eventually required surgery.
As McNally exited the court, she vomited. She said she was nervous all match, thinking about the time she didn't know if she would be able to compete at this level again. But she persisted to improve to 2-4 all-time in the singles draw at the Cincinnati Open.
“This is surreal, honestly," McNally said during an on-court interview after the match. "It was just a combination of nerves and wanting to do well for you guys. I want to win here so bad."
McNally cruises past Inglis
McNally would go on to win four of eight break points, while holding serve all but once when she had it.
Despite returning to a revamped facility, she appeared at home. Instantly, she had the crowd roaring as she punctuated a perfect first game with a center line-grazing ace.
Soon after, McNally logged her first break without dropping a point to take control of the first set 3-1. She closed that game with a powerful forehand down the line, leaving little room for Inglis to return it.
At 4-2, she staved off a break point before hitting a pair of well-struck serves to hold serve.
Then, McNally closed out the set moments after pulling level at 40-40 with an inside-out forehand. She was two-for-two on break points during the first set, logging just four unforced errors compared to her opponent’s 10.
In the second set, McNally had to save two break points in the first game, but she averted trouble, scoring an ace to take a 1-0 lead.
Like the first set, she secured a break to go ahead 3-1, despite it taking two tries the second time around.
After breaking Inglis' serve again to take a commanding 5-1 lead, McNally slipped for the first time by dropping her serve. But she rebounded the next time she had it to take the set, 6-3.
The sun had set by the time McNally claimed victory past 10 p.m. But the crowd was more awake than ever after seeing their hometown talent claim victory.
McNally will meet WTA No. 32, McCartney Kessler, in the Round of 64.
This story will be updated
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Caty McNally overcomes nerves to win hometown Cincinnati Open opener
Category: Tennis
