Top seed Alexander Zverev advanced to the fourth round of the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Masters on Monday,overcoming a tough challenge from Terrance Atmane. Zverev secured his 46th victory of season with a 7-6 (7/4),7-6 (8/6) win, showcasing his resilience on the court.
Despite facing a formidable opponent, Zverev managed to clinch the match with a powerful backhand down the line. "He was playing incredibly aggressively, hitting forehands all over the court," Zverev remarked, acknowledging difficulty Atmane presented. This victory follows Zverev's impressive performances at both the French Open, where he triumphed, and the Wimbledon, where he finished as runner-up.
In a contrasting narrative,the legendary Williams sisters, who have collectively earned 14 Grand Slam doubles titles, faced disappointment in their first doubles match together since 2022. They were defeated by American Payton Stearns and Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk with scoreline of 6-2, 1-6,10-8. match marked a bittersweet reunion for siblings,who last played together at 2022 US Open.
Serena Williams reflected on experience,stating,"It was fun and special . We kicked off a little rust." Despite their loss,she emphasized that the goal was not solely to win but to enjoy the moment. The sisters struggled initially, dropping serve once in the first set and losing six of the last seven games. However, they rebounded in the second set, dominating their opponents before narrowly losing in a tense super tiebreak.
Serena noted the unique atmosphere of playing in front of a full stadium,saying,"This is not my usual Monday night." She acknowledged the limited nature of their reunion, hinting at the possibility that they may not play together frequently in future. "This is not forever. We don’t have to play every week. It’s a bit different," she added.
Meanwhile, fifth seed Alex de Minaur faced multiple rain interruptions but managed to defeat Arthur Fery 7-5, 7-6 (7/3). De Minaur was leading 5-1 in the second set when the rain halted play for 30 minutes. Despite interruptions, he maintained his composure to secure the win,albeit with 29 unforced errors. "You never want to go into a rain delay leading 5-1," he commented, reflecting on the challenges of day.
Next,De Minaur will face Arthur Fils of France, who advanced after defeating Czech ninth seed Jiri Lehecka 6-1,6-7 (7/9),6-3. Spanish teenager Rafael Jodar also made headlines by dominating Alejandro Tabilo of Chile 6-2,6-1,setting up a clash with Roland Garros finalist Flavio Cobolli,who triumphed over Alexander Blockx 7-5, 4-6,7-5.
Jodar,the 12th seed,expressed his excitement about competing in Masters 1000 event,stating,"A Masters 1000 is something I dreamed of as a kid . I’m grateful for the position I’m in now." In other matches, Thiago Tirante,who previously ousted Novak Djokovic,continued his impressive run by defeating Martin Landaluce 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/4).
On the women’s side, Iga Swiatek,the former world number one and defending champion, advanced after defeating Maria Sakkari 4-6,6-1, 6-1. Jessica Pegula,the tournament's third seed, also progressed by overcoming US compatriot Emma Navarro 7-5, 6-2,concluding her match with an ace.
