Cincinnati, USA – World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz successfully navigated the challenging heat and humidity of a Midwest summer to advance to the fourth round of the ATP and WTA Cincinnati Open on Tuesday. His efficient victory came hours before evening rainstorms and lightning forced the suspension of several matches, leaving high-seeded players stranded.
Alcaraz’s Efficient Victory and Milestone
The Spanish second seed showcased his resilience in 32-degree Celsius conditions, dispatching Serb Hamad Medjedovic 6-4, 6-4 in just 95 minutes. This win marked Alcaraz’s 50th match victory of the year.
“Medjedovic doesn’t like to run that much, so I tried to move him around as much as possible,” Alcaraz stated, acknowledging the tough conditions. “But it was difficult with the ball flying so much and his shots coming so fast. I tried to defend in a good way.”
Alcaraz has been on a strong run in 2025, now boasting 13 consecutive victories at the Masters 1000 level. He is set to play Italian Luca Nardi in the quarterfinals, after Nardi advanced when Jakob Mensik retired at 6-2, 2-1 after 42 minutes. The five-time Grand Slam winner, preparing for the upcoming US Open, expressed pride in his ability to perform even when not feeling physically optimal, calling it a season goal.
Suspended Matches and Mid-Match Struggles
The evening session was significantly impacted by severe weather. Men’s third seed Alexander Zverev was on the verge of victory against American Brandon Nakashima, leading 6-4, 5-4 and preparing to serve for the match, when play was suspended due to the threat of lightning and subsequent rain.
Similarly, American third seed Jessica Pegula was mid-comeback against Poland’s Magda Linette. Linette had taken the first set 7-6 (7/5), but Pegula, last year’s finalist, had leveled the match by winning the second set 6-3 before the weather delay.
Toronto champion Ben Shelton never even made it onto the court for his scheduled match against Roberto Bautista Agut, as the rainstorms forced officials to call off all remaining play for the night.
Earlier in the day, the heat took its toll during the mid-day match between Francisco Comesano and Reilly Opelka. Their contest was interrupted for 45 minutes by rain, but ultimately, the Argentine Comesano limped to a 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 7-5 victory, saving three match points. Comesano required a medical timeout mid-second set, while Opelka called for the doctor near the end, complaining of dizziness and high blood pressure before losing the match. Comesano will now face ninth seed Andrey Rublev, who defeated Australian Alexei Popyrin 6-7 (5/7), 7-6 (7/5), 7-5. Opelka, known for his big serve, hit 27 aces but also committed nearly 60 unforced errors. Comesano’s win makes him the first Argentine to reach the Cincinnati Round of 16 since Diego Schwartzman in 2022.
WTA Walkover and Key Victories
In the WTA draw, second seed Coco Gauff advanced to the fourth round via walkover when her opponent, Dayana Yastremska, withdrew before their scheduled Tuesday match due to illness. Gauff, the defending Cincinnati champion and reigning US Open winner, will await the winner of the match between Jelena Ostapenko and Lucia Bronzetti.
Seventh seed Jasmine Paolini, last season’s Roland Garros and Wimbledon finalist, secured a win over American Ashlyn Krueger 7-6 (7/2), 6-1. German qualifier Ella Seidel continued her strong run, defeating McCartney Kessler 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (8/6). Two-time Grand Slam champion Barbora Krejcikova also advanced, outlasting American Iva Jovic 6-4, 3-6, 6-2.
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