Elise Mertens defeated Caty McNally 7–5, 6–0 at the Cincinnati Masters 1000 on hard court in the first round, confirming her status as pre-match favourite with odds of 1.47 to McNally's 2.87. The Belgian controlled the match after a competitive opening set, breaking serve to secure the first frame before dominating the second with a bagel. Mertens' superior court positioning and consistency proved decisive against the American qualifier, who struggled to maintain rhythm throughout. The result underscores Mertens' pedigree on the hard court and her readiness for the closing stretch of the summer season.