The Cincinnati Open always promises drama, but few could have predicted the electrifying—and at times, electrified—twists that unfolded on August 12, 2025. The third round of this prestigious ATP and WTA tournament saw top seeds blazing through the sweltering Midwest heat, only for the skies to open and halt the action just as several pivotal matches reached boiling point. With rain and lightning suspending play late in the evening, fans and players alike are left on the edge of their seats, wondering what’s next for a field packed with talent and ambition.
Let’s start with the headline act: Carlos Alcaraz, the world number two, who continues to dazzle on the hard courts of Mason, Ohio. Alcaraz, fresh off a month-long break following his Wimbledon final loss to Jannik Sinner, showed little rust as he dispatched Hamad Medjedovic 6-4, 6-4 in just 95 minutes. The match was played in punishing 32-degree Celsius heat and humidity—a true test of endurance and focus. Alcaraz was only broken once and converted three of seven break points, showcasing the relentless baseline play that’s become his trademark. The win marked his 50th victory of the season, making him the only player on either the ATP or WTA tour to hit that milestone for four consecutive years since Novak Djokovic.
"I saw it once I finished the match, so for me, it's great to join Djokovic," Alcaraz told reporters after the match. "To be the player who has 50 or more wins in four consecutive years is something that I'm working on, the consistency and saying that for me is a pretty cool thing." He added, "I've been out from tour for a month since Wimbledon. Different surface here, for me, it's a little bit tricky to get used to. The court, the conditions are really tough. I'm trying in every tournament to play a really good match in the first round, and if my best tennis comes after two or three matches, it is what it is. But I will work on it."
Alcaraz has now strung together 13 straight ATP 1000 victories and will face World No. 98 Luca Nardi in the next round. Nardi, a 22-year-old Italian and lucky loser, advanced after his opponent Jakub Mensik retired due to illness while trailing 6-2, 2-1. This is Nardi’s Cincinnati Open debut, and what a reward awaits: a shot at the red-hot Spaniard. Alcaraz’s consistency and tenacity are the talk of the tour, especially as he eyes the upcoming US Open, where he’s expected to be a major threat.
But as the sun began to dip, the drama shifted from the court to the skies. By 9:05 p.m., lightning and heavy rain forced tournament officials to suspend play across the Lindner Family Tennis Center. The timing couldn’t have been more suspenseful. Alexander Zverev, the men’s third seed, was on the cusp of victory against American Brandon Nakashima. Zverev led 6-4, 5-4 and was about to serve for the match when the thunder rolled in, sending both players—and the crowd—scurrying for cover. The match will resume with Zverev in a commanding position, but as any tennis fan knows, momentum can shift in the blink of an eye after an overnight pause.
Jessica Pegula, the women’s fourth seed and last year’s Cincinnati finalist, found herself in a similar predicament. Pegula was battling back against Poland’s Magda Linette. Linette had edged the first set in a tense tiebreak, 7-6(5), but Pegula roared back to take the second 6-3. The pair were just about to start the deciding third set when the weather intervened. With both players eager for a quarterfinal spot, their unfinished business will be among the most anticipated contests once play resumes.
Not everyone was as fortunate to get on court. Ben Shelton, the newly crowned Toronto champion, never had a chance to test his form against Roberto Bautista Agut. Their match, scheduled for Center Court, was one of several wiped from the slate by the early nightfall. In the women’s draw, Clara Tauson and Veronika Kudermetova also saw their match postponed, while Coco Gauff, the defending Cincinnati champion and world number two, advanced to the next round without hitting a ball after Dayana Yastremska withdrew due to illness.
Other notable results from a packed day include Karen Khachanov’s efficient 6-3, 6-3 win over American Jenson Brooksby, earning the Russian a spot in the Round of 16, where he’ll face the winner of the Zverev-Nakashima clash. Khachanov, coming off a finals appearance in Toronto and a quarterfinal run at Wimbledon, continues to impress, though he’s yet to crack the code in Mason, having lost in the Round of 16 on his previous four visits.
On the women’s side, Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti pulled off a notable upset, toppling No. 23 seed Jelena Ostapenko 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 to become the fourth unseeded player to reach the last 16. Bronzetti, ranked 61st in the world, had crashed out in the first round last year but now faces Coco Gauff in what promises to be a fascinating duel of styles and nerves. Meanwhile, Jasmine Paolini, the No. 7 seed and last season’s Roland Garros and Wimbledon finalist, made light work of Ashlyn Krueger, winning 7-6(2), 6-1.
The doubles courts weren’t spared the chaos, either. Cincinnati native Caty McNally and her Czech partner Linda Noskova staged a thrilling comeback in their Round of 16 match, saving six match points to win 7-6(2), 3-6, 1-0(11). They’ll next face the formidable No. 2 seeds, Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe, in the quarterfinals. Peyton Stearns, another local favorite, and her partner Marketa Vondrousova also advanced, setting up more excitement for the home crowd.
Francisco Comesana’s marathon win over Reilly Opelka, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-5, deserves a special mention. The Argentine saved three match points and needed a medical timeout for cramping, while Opelka, known for his booming serve, fired 27 aces but was undone by nearly 60 unforced errors and a late bout of dizziness. Comesana’s grit sees him become the first Argentine man in the Cincinnati Round of 16 since 2022, where he’ll face ninth seed Andrey Rublev, who outlasted Alexei Popyrin in another three-set epic.
With the order of play now pushed to August 13, anticipation hangs heavy in the humid Ohio air. Will Zverev and Pegula pick up where they left off? Can Alcaraz keep his historic run alive? And who will emerge as the dark horse in this weather-disrupted draw? The only certainty is that the Cincinnati Open is serving up plenty of drama—on and off the court.
For now, the players rest, the fans wait, and the storm clouds loom, promising more twists as the tournament resumes. The race for the Western & Southern Open title is wide open, and every match from here on out is sure to be a must-watch.
