TOMMY PAUL UPSETS TOP SEED ALEXANDER ZVEREV
In a thrilling match at the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Masters, Tommy Paul emerged victorious over top-seeded Alexander Zverev, pulling off a significant upset with a score of 4-6, 7-6 (8/6), 6-4. This victory marked a notable moment in Paul’s career as he saved a match point during the contest on Wednesday.
The match was characterized by interruptions due to inclement weather, including a 90-minute rain delay during the seventh game of the second set, along with two additional brief pauses to dry the court. Zverev, the French Open champion, had an opportunity to close the match when leading 6-5 in the second-set tiebreaker but succumbed to pressure and missed a simple volley into the net.
Despite initially gaining a break in the deciding set to lead 4-2, Zverev could not maintain the advantage, as Paul managed to break back in the subsequent game and took control with a 5-4 lead. Paul confidently served out the match, achieving his third victory against Zverev in their last four encounters. After the match, Paul reflected on his performance, stating, “I’m not sure how I did it. I put some returns in, he gave me some looks at second serves, and he threw in a few double faults, which always helps a ton. I went after the ball a bit more, I was having fun out there. I hope I can keep building on this and peak at the US Open.”
PAUL TO FACE ROLAND GARROS RUNNER-UP
Looking ahead, Tommy Paul is set to contest against Flavio Cobolli, the Roland Garros runner-up, who fought hard for over two and a half hours to overcome the in-form Spaniard Rafael Jodar with a scoreline of 4-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-3. Cobolli has displayed remarkable stamina throughout the Cincinnati tournament, winning all three of his matches in three sets.
This quarter-final appearance marks Cobolli’s second of the season at the Masters level, following an earlier reach in Madrid. Cobolli successfully prevented the promising 19-year-old Jodar from advancing to his eighth quarter-final in just nine tournaments. Expressing his thoughts post-match, Cobolli remarked, “At the end of the second set and start of the third I told myself to believe, try on every point. I knew I had a chance. Rafa has had an unbelievable season, but maybe he was a bit tired. At the end, I deserved to win as I was fresher than him. I pushed to my limit to get through. Sometimes I have to remind myself that I’m really strong.”
THIAGO TIRANTE CONTINUES HIS COURAGEOUS RUN
In another surprising turn of events, Thiago Tirante, who had previously upset Novak Djokovic in the second round, continued his impressive performance, defeating Jakub Mensik with a score of 5-7, 6-4, 6-4, thereby securing his first Masters quarter-final slot. Meanwhile, Alex de Minaur faced a tough challenge against Frenchman Arthur Fils, who claimed victory with a commanding 6-3, 6-4 result.
SWIATEK PREPS FOR RYBAKINA
The defending women’s champion, Iga Swiatek, managed to advance past Diane Parry of France with a score of 6-3, 6-3, needing four match points to secure her place in the quarter-finals. Swiatek’s victory marked her fourth consecutive quarter-final appearance in Cincinnati and her 30th at the 1000 level. She is now set to face Elena Rybakina, repeating last week’s Toronto final, in which Swiatek emerged victorious.
Swiatek shared her reflections post-match, noting, “I was solid, even if I had to put more energy into my shots since she was hitting so much slice.”
UPSETS CONTINUE IN WOMEN’S DRAW
In a surprising turn, Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk rallied from a set down to defeat the fifth-seeded French Open champion, Mirra Andreeva, with a score of 4-6, 6-0, 6-2. Additionally, sixth-seeded Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova was ousted by Amanda Anisimova, who triumphed with a score of 6-1, 6-4 in a match interrupted by weather delays. Anisimova is set to face third-seeded American Jessica Pegula, who managed to overcome veteran Sorana Cirstea with a score of 6-2, 4-6, 7-5.
