On a humid Tuesday morning at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio, tennis fans witnessed a third-round epic for the ages at the Cincinnati Open. The matchup? Reilly Opelka, the towering American known for his thunderous serve, against Francisco Comesana, the Argentine clay-court specialist with a reputation for grit and baseline prowess. By the time the dust settled, it was Comesana who emerged victorious, toppling Opelka 6-7, 6-4, 7-5 after three hours and eight minutes of drama, tension, and more than a few jaw-dropping twists.
Heading into the match, most eyes were on Opelka. At 27 years old and ranked No. 73, he’d been enjoying a solid season on fast hard courts, notching a 16-9 record in 2025. His second-round victory over Alex de Minaur, powered by 14 aces, had only reinforced his status as a formidable threat on American soil. "Opelka’s serving power can dictate play on any given day," was the prevailing wisdom among analysts, many of whom predicted the American would take this first-ever ATP Tour meeting between the two in straight sets.
But Comesana, three years Opelka’s junior and ranked just ahead at No. 71, had other ideas. The Argentine had already shown flashes of brilliance earlier in the year, coming close to a top-50 breakthrough after a deep run at the Rio Open, where he famously upset world No. 2 Alexander Zverev. In Cincinnati, he was out to prove he could translate his clay-court success to the hard courts—and perhaps shake off the underdog label for good.
The match began under clear skies and high expectations. Opelka wasted no time asserting his dominance, unleashing a barrage of aces—27 in total by match’s end—and maintaining a razor-sharp focus behind his first serve. The opening set was tight, with both players holding serve until the tiebreak. There, Opelka’s big-match experience shone through. He denied two set points in the tenth game before breaking at love, then swept all six points on his serve in the tiebreak, clinching the set 7-6 (7-4) with a single mini-break. The crowd roared its approval, sensing the American might be on his way to another deep run.
Yet, the second set saw a dramatic shift. Comesana, who’d been trading blows from the baseline and absorbing Opelka’s pace, began to find his rhythm. He missed break point opportunities in the third game but finally broke through at 3-3, moving ahead for the first time. Midway through the set, however, Comesana’s body rebelled. In the eighth game, he abruptly left the court, apparently to vomit, as he struggled with dizziness and physical discomfort. The Argentine’s resilience was on full display as he returned, managed two solid holds, and closed out the set 6-4. Suddenly, the match was level, and the pressure shifted back to Opelka.
With the tension mounting, the third set unfolded like a classic. Opelka seemed to steady himself, breaking Comesana early and racing out to a 4-1 lead. His serve was humming, his confidence unmistakable. But tennis, as ever, is a sport of momentum swings. Comesana broke back in the seventh game, narrowing the gap and refusing to go quietly. At 4-5, serving to stay in the match, the Argentine faced a match point—but held his nerve and saved it. Then, as if the stakes weren’t high enough, a 45-minute rain delay interrupted play, leaving both players to stew over what might come next.
When play resumed, the drama only intensified. Opelka, perhaps feeling the pressure, generated two more match points on Comesana’s serve in the tenth game. The Argentine, showing remarkable poise, saved both, leveling at 5-5 and drawing gasps from the crowd. The next game saw Comesana break Opelka for a 6-5 lead, swinging the momentum decisively in his favor.
But the theatrics weren’t over. As the final set reached its crescendo, Opelka called for a medical timeout, citing dizziness and low blood sugar. The intervention sparked a heated argument with chair umpire Mohamed Lahyani, who reminded Opelka that the players had already enjoyed a lengthy rain delay. After a brief consultation with the tournament supervisor, Opelka was granted assistance, much to Comesana’s visible frustration. The incident only added to the already electric atmosphere on Center Court.
With the match on his racquet, Comesana stepped up to serve for victory at 6-5. The Argentine kept his composure, closing out the match and sealing a spot in the last 16. For Opelka, it was a bitter pill to swallow—he’d squandered a 4-1 lead and three match points, leaving the court devastated. Comesana, meanwhile, celebrated a signature win, having "swum against the current"—a phrase that felt more than apt after his gutsy comeback.
Statistically, the match was a study in contrasts. Opelka’s 27 aces underscored his raw power, and he held a clear advantage on first-serve points. But Comesana’s resilience in the big moments—saving three of five break points, including all three match points in the decider—proved decisive. The Argentine broke Opelka’s serve four times out of 13 opportunities, demonstrating not just tenacity but tactical savvy against one of the game’s best servers.
Photos from the match captured the intensity on both sides of the net: Opelka’s towering service motion, Comesana’s determined baseline play, and the palpable tension that hung over every crucial point. Fans in Mason, Ohio, witnessed not just a tennis match, but a battle of wills—one that will be remembered for its wild swings and emotional highs and lows.
For Comesana, this victory could mark a turning point in his career. With a place in the last 16 secured, he edges closer to that elusive top-50 ranking and sends a clear message to the rest of the ATP Tour: underestimate him at your peril. As for Opelka, the defeat stings, but his performance—particularly his serving—remains a reminder of his threat on any hard court.
The Cincinnati Open continues, but for those who witnessed Tuesday’s third-round thriller, the memory of Comesana’s comeback and Opelka’s heartbreak will linger long after the final ball has been struck. Tennis, after all, is a game of inches, nerves, and, sometimes, a little bit of luck. On this day, Francisco Comesana had just enough of all three.
