Top 10 players dropped like flies at the Cincinnati Masters.

Holger Rune’s retirement against Mackenzie McDonald took the top 10 players out of the Cincinnati Masters to four on Wednesday and will rise to five.

On Monday, Rune entered the Top 5 of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings for the first time, although he was unable to finish his first tournament as part of that prestigious group.

The 20-year-old was forced to give up after trailing 4-6, 0-2 to Mackenzie McDonald on Wednesday at the Western & Southern Open. -3 In the opening set, he dropped 5 games in a row before giving up.

After losing to Marcos Giron in last week’s first round in Toronto, Rune was looking for his first win since reaching Wimbledon’s quarterfinals.

Earlier, Max Purcell cornered Russia’s Casper Ruud and Andrey Rublev losing to Finland’s Emil Ruusuvuori, while Jannik Sinner lost to Dusan Lajovic.

The fifth top ten player was then blown away when Frances Tiafoe lost to Stan Wawrinka in a classic clash.

The Swiss wildcard beat the 10th seed American 6-3, 6-4, dominating from the baseline.

“It was probably the best game of the season. I thought it was the perfect game,” Wawrinka said after improving to 6-1 in the last seven matches. “I feel good, moving well, serving well, aggressive, with him, fighting. Very happy and hope to continue playing well.”

Wawrinka will face Purcell after the Aussies beat Ruud.

“I watched him play. He’s a really good player,” Wawrinka said of the world No. 70 who qualified and beat Felix Auger-Aliassime. Last week in Toronto “He’s coming this year. He won many races. He played well last week. He beat top players, he beat Ruud today, it’s going to be a very interesting match.

“We never played against each other. never rehearse He’s a dangerous player. So once again I have to play my best tennis to win.”

Lajovic was thrilled to beat both the top ten players and the Toronto Masters champion.

“I know it will be difficult. Because whenever you play with someone who is in great form and has a lot of confidence. They played well in important moments,” Lajovic said.

“You can see that he saves a lot of breakpoints. and everything as it draws near he was there

“I know I’ve served very well the last few days, so I thought if I kept serving, I’d be fine. both flat and kicked wide I will win points after serving. This is what I do most of the time in my serve game… I’m happy to finish in two sets. Because I know that playing three sets against this type of player It will always be harder.”

Lajovic is hoping to power up his ranks and make a real impact on tour.

“I started to change a lot about myself,” said Lajovic when asked about the secret behind his recent success with the tour’s top players. “This year I started practicing mental health with a therapist and everything and started making some changes about myself. which is always difficult Especially when you are over 30 years old.

“We are accepted for who we are. [at that age]Change therefore requires a lot of effort. But it’s starting to work. I’ve had a really good start to the season. I was unlucky to have chickenpox. So I got to Paris and had to play until Wimbledon. And it will take me a few more weeks to get back on the pitch. I am finally back to where I belong.”

Finland’s Ruusuvuori took his fourth Top 10 win when he upset World No 8 Rublev in three hours and 16 minutes.

Ruusuvuori benefited from Rublev’s low 50% first serve percentage as he avenged a four-set defeat to Russia at this year’s Australian Open to improve his record compared to the seventh seed. 1-2

Read more: Shocking defeat for Jannik Sinner in Cincinnati could be a blessing in disguise