Alcaraz Denies Dzumhur in Cincinnati Adventure

By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, August 10, 2025
Photo credit: Cincinnati Open Facebook

A month after Jannik Sinner dethroned Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final, the world No. 2 renewed his rivalry with the top-ranked Italian driving the ball deep on an Ohio golf course.

Today, Alcaraz launched his Cincinnati return teeing off in the opening set before hitting himself into deep rough.

Ultimately, Alcaraz used every club in his bag to defeat Damir Dzumhur 6-1, 2-6, 6-3 in his Cincinnati Open opener. 

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In his first match since losing to Sinner 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in the Wimbledon final, Alcaraz showed little rust in the first set, fell into a sloppy hole in the second set then broke twice in the decider to deter a tough Dzumhur.

This was Alcaraz’s first hard-court match since his surprising three-set loss to David Goffin in his Miami Open opener.

Alcaraz converted five of 10 break points vs. the 5’9” Dzumhur, but didn’t save any of the three break points he faced, littered 44 unforced errors and suffered some concentration lapses. Alcaraz netted a few drop shots, built a 4-1 lead in the final set only to double fault and muff a serve and volley to hand the break back in the seventh game. Credit a tough Dzumhur, who took a set off two-time Roland Garros champion Alcaraz in Paris this year, for fighting all the way through.

Still, despite his mis-steps, Alcaraz drilled a deep forehand return then exploited his opponent’s lone double fault of the day to break back for 5-3.

Serving for the third round, Alcaraz unleashed a 131 mph blast and closed in one hour, 41 minutes.

After the hand shake, Alcaraz trotted back on the court and erupted in a “Vamos! Vamos!” scream expressing both excitement and relief. 

The reigning Roland Garros champion scored his ATP-best 49th win of the season setting up a third-round clash with either Hamad Medjedovic or Tallon Griekspoor. 

Alcaraz grew up looking up to tennis heroes Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.

In the opening set, the Spaniard paid tribute to seven-time Cincinnati champion Federer featuring the Swiss Maestro’s famed SABR attack. Alcaraz ran down a challenging drop shot to earn set point in the seventh game.

Then the explosive Alcaraz recalled SABR taking a full sprint up to a second-serve return successfully forcing the error to score his third break and seize a one-set lead after just 29 minutes of play.

Though Alcaraz was in free flow through the first set he crashed in the second.

The five-time Grand Slam champion coughed up 17 unforced errors in the second set  infusing Dzumhur with confidence and aggression.

In a sloppy fourth game, Alcaraz botched a volley, netted a forehand then ballooned a forehand drive well long gifting Dzumhur the break and a 2-1 lead. 

The 33-year-old Bosnian ran off 12 of 13 points in one stretch wrapping a pair of love holds around that break for a 3-1 lead.

Struggling to win points off his second serve, Alcaraz pushed a routine volley long as Dzumhur scored his second straight break for 4-1.

Pumping his fist to his box, the world No. 56 backed up the break for 5-1. Alcaraz made successive return errors—his 16th and 17th of the set—as Dzumhur seized the second set to force a decider.

Alcaraz breezed through a love hold for a 2-1 lead in the decider. Then the pair produced a highlight reel game. 

The speedy Alcaraz ran down a drop shot, dabbed a stretch volley then turned with his back to net sprinted back to the baseline and clubbed a tomahawk forehand pass extending the fourth game to deuce. Drilling a diagonal forehand gave Alcaraz the break and a 3-1 lead.

Dabbing a drop shot, Alcaraz extended the lead to 4-1 and seemed to be in total command.

But a defiant Dzumhur kept battling and Alcaraz betrayed his cause with some wayward shotmaking as the grew tighter again.

The Dzumhur double fault on break point gave Alcaraz a crucial 5-3 lead and he took care of business in the final game. An adventurous up and down win that sends the Spaniard into round three.

Holger Rune joins Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner in exclusive 'Club 50'

6 Kings Slam

Holger Rune celebrated a milestone victory in Cincinnati. The young Dane ousted Roman Safiullin 7-5, 7-6 in an hour and 58 minutes in the second round, prevailing and making a winning start.

Holger celebrated his 50th Masters 1000 victory, becoming the fourth player born in 2000 or later to achieve that. Rune joined Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Felix Auger-Aliassime in the exclusive 'Club 50.'

The Dane claimed his first Masters 1000 win in Indian Wells three and a half years ago. He claimed the Paris Masters crown later that season following five straight top-10 triumphs!

Holger was the finalist in Monte Carlo and Rome in the spring of 2023, and his most recent Masters 1000 final came in Indian Wells this March. The youngster will seek his fifth Masters 1000 final in Cincinnati.

The 7th seed had to dig deep in his first test in Ohio. He took six points more than Safiullin and prevailed in the decisive moments to avoid a decider. Rune lost serve two times and provided three return games from five chances.

They sprayed over 70 unforced errors, and the Dane reduced the number of errors. Holger forged the advantage in service winners but lost in from the baseline. He had the upper hand in the shortest exchanges, and Roman reduced the gap in the mid-range ones.

Holger Rune, Cincinnati 2025

Holger Rune, Cincinnati 2025© Stream screenshot

 

They traded breaks in the middle of the opening set. The Dane provided another break in game nine and served for the set at 5-4. Rune wasted two set points and lost serve. 

However, he kept his composure and closed the opener with another break at 5-5 and a hold in game 12. The second set was much more fluid, with no break chances and 12 comfortable holds. 

Rune grabbed two mini-breaks for a 5-2 advantage. Roman erased the deficit with a mini-break in the tenth point, locking the result at 5-5. Still, Holger claimed a decisive point on the return at 6-5, sealing the deal and making a winning start.

Novak Djokovic's schedule worries everyone: all details inside

Belgrade

Novak Djokovic's schedule after the Wimbledon Championships surprised both fans and insiders. The former world number 1 decided to skip the Toronto Masters 1000 and this choice was not particularly surprising, considering that the Serbian legend has not played in Canada since 2018 and definitely needed a break after his loss to Jannik Sinner at the Championships.

However, most experts expected that the 38-year-old from Belgrade would at least participate in the Cincinnati Masters 1000 – scheduled in Ohio from August 7 to 18 – in order to play some official matches on the hard courts in view of the US Open. 

The final Major of the season will begin on August 24 in New York and it is now clear to everyone that Nole will only play mixed doubles with Olga Danilovic before making her singles debut.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion has spent the last few weeks on vacation with his family and friends, enjoying his free time first in Croatia and then in Greece. Novak has not yet resumed practicing and it is not known if he has solved the muscle problem that had conditioned him during the semifinal of the Championships.

Nole is still resting

A few days ago, Djokovic's presence at the second edition of the 'Six Kings Slam' to be held in Saudi Arabia was announced.

In the latest episode of his podcast, American legend Jimmy Connors admitted that he was surprised by Nole's recent choices: "I have to admit that his schedule worries me a bit. He hasn't played a hard court match so far and it would have been good to see him in Cincinnati to test his level, but instead he preferred to stay home. We don't know what to expect from him, although we can't underestimate one of the best in history. We've seen him on vacation for the last month, that's all we know."

The Serbian ace had missed both American Masters 1000 last season, before being prematurely eliminated in New York.

Carlos Alcaraz faces Damir Dzumhur in Cincinnati. Another thriller coming?

Alcaraz

World no. 2 Carlos Alcaraz will chase his first Cincinnati Masters title. The Spaniard starts his campaign against Damir Dzumhur, returning to action for the first time since losing his first Major final to Jannik Sinner at Wimbledon.

Carlos and Damir embraced a thriller at Roland Garros two months ago, and maybe we can see another tight duel between them in Ohio. The Spaniard and the Bosnian faced in the third round in Paris.

The favorite prevailed 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 in three hours and 14 minutes en route to the last 16. Alcaraz controlled the pace in the opening two sets before losing his vibe and struggling in the remaining two.

Dzumhur took the pivotal points of the third set and forged a 3-1 advantage in the fourth, using the defending champion's shaky period. However, Carlos woke up and grabbed five of the final six games to emerge at the top and avoid a decider. 

The Spaniard admitted he did not know what to do in the third set, losing ground and struggling to overcome an inspired opponent. However, he found improvements and wrapped up a challenging duel in style. 

Alcaraz played against 12 break points and saved nine. He generated 21 chances on the return and converted seven, including ones in the pivotal moments. The Spaniard hit 52 winners and 44 unforced errors.

Damir Dzumhur & Carlos Alcaraz, Roland Garros 2025

Damir Dzumhur & Carlos Alcaraz, Roland Garros 2025© Stream screenshot

 

World no. 2 saved two break points in the first game of the duel and secured back-to-back breaks en route to 6-1 in under half an hour. Damir lost serve at 1-1 in the second set and fell behind. 

The Bosnian served to stay in the set at 3-5 and played another loose service game, propelling his rival two sets to love in front. Dzumhur raised his level in the third set.

He secured a break in the seventh game and disturbed the rival's momentum. Damir denied six break points in games eight and ten, wrapping up the set 6-4 and gaining a boost.

Carlos made his position even more challenging after losing serve at the beginning of the fourth set. He trailed 3-1 before erasing the deficit with a break in game six.

Carlos Alcaraz, Cincinnati 2025

Carlos Alcaraz, Cincinnati 2023© Stream screenshot

 

The Spaniard secured the seventh game after a deuce and moved in front. The defending champion made another push on the return at 4-3 and delivered another break to rattle off four games and extend the gap. 

Alcaraz served for the win at 5-3 and suffered a break to keep his rival in contention. However, Dzumhur experienced another break at 4-5, propelling the favorite into the last 16.

Carlos Alcaraz reflects on Wimbledon loss to Jannik Sinner: 'I left the court happy'

All England Club

World no. 2 Carlos Alcaraz will chase his first Cincinnati crown. The 22-year-old hit the practice court in Ohio with his trademark energy and perspective, leaving the recent setback behind and chasing new titles.

The five-time Major champion reflected on a key moment from earlier this summer – his first loss in a Major final at Wimbledon to Jannik Sinner. After winning the first five Major finals, Carlos ended on the losing side for the first time. 

Jannik lost the opener but earned a well-deserved 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 victory, avenging the Roland Garros heartbreak. Despite the defeat, the Spaniard found reasons to leave the court with pride and joy.

Alcaraz entered the final with a 5-0 score in the title match, a remarkable feat for any player. However, he acknowledged the fact he had to lose a Major final at some point, like every other player.

As he walked off Centre Court without his third consecutive Wimbledon trophy, the 22-year-old felt pride instead of frustration. The Spaniard recognized the need for improvement but described his defeat as part of a natural progression.

The setback has not dampened Alcaraz's drive. Instead, with a grounded mind and a growing hunger to evolve and become one of the ultimate tennis champions, he is focused on what lies ahead.

Carlos Alcaraz, Wimbledon 2025

Carlos Alcaraz, Wimbledon 2025© Facebook – Wimbledon

 

His next goal? Cincinnati and US Open titles and the ATP throne taken away from Jannik Sinner! The hard-court season unfolds, and Carlos brings with him the lessons from the All England Club. 

They are not a burden but fuel for the journey forward. After performing a miraculous escape in Paris, the Spaniard could not provide similar performance in London. 

He claimed the opener before Sinner bounced back and claimed the next three sets with a single break in each, outplaying his greatest rival and providing his first loss in Major finals.

Jannik Sinner & Carlos Alcaraz, Wimbledon 2025

Jannik Sinner & Carlos Alcaraz, 2025© Stream screenshot

 

"I want to win every final I play, especially at Majors. I lost to Jannik at Wimbledon, but left the court happy and proud. I smiled and thought that I had to lose a Major final at some point, like everyone else.

I have to make many improvements from the title match in London, but I felt good right after the match. I had to be grateful for everything I have achieved, and reaching the Wimbledon final is always great.

I lost it, but I still felt proud and happy with everything I did," Carlos Alcaraz said. 

Major update on Jannik Sinner's debut in Cincinnati

Alexander Zverev

Jannik Sinner will be back in action at the Cincinnati Masters 1000 these days, where he will try to defend the title won a year ago thanks to an amazing run. The world No.1 will play his first official tournament since his extraordinary triumph at the Wimbledon Championships just under a month ago, having decided to skip the 'Canadian Open' in Toronto so as not to overload his body ahead of the US Open.

This segment of the season is very suitable for the game of the Italian ace, who will be called upon to defend 3000 points between Cincinnati and New York. If he wants to maintain the top position in the ATP rankings until the end of the year, the 23-year-old from Sesto Pusteria needs to achieve brilliant results in the coming month and will have to hope that his top rival Carlos Alcaraz is not at the top of his shape.

The Italian and the Spaniard faced each other in the final at both Roland Garros and the Wimbledon Championships, which is why fans hope to be able to witness a new chapter of their spectacular rivalry already in Flushing Meadows.

New details on Sinner's debut

Meanwhile, the exact date of Jannik's debut in Ohio has finally been revealed. The four-time Grand Slam champion – who can benefit from a first-round bye – will make his debut in this tournament on Saturday, August 9 against Kopriva or a player from the qualifiers.

Sinner's potential path in Cincinnati doesn't look too tough, having avoided very dangerous rivals like Ben Shelton, Alexei Popyrin and Alexander Zverev along his run.

In his press conference, the world number 1 confessed that he is looking forward to getting back into action: "My elbow is fine and I can't wait to play my first match here. I got some rest after Wimbledon and spent the holidays together with my friends and family. Then I started practicing again and I hope to play my best tennis on hard courts, especially at the US Open."

Former ATP ace makes surprising comparison to describe Jannik Sinner

Cincinnati

Jannik Sinner is ready to return to action at the Cincinnati Masters 1000, a tournament where he had triumphed in 2024 without playing his best tennis. The world number 1 was not at the top of his shape in Ohio a year ago, also due to the imminent ITIA ruling relating to his doping case. For this reason, the Italian ace had more difficulty than expected during his run, but he was able to raise his level in the decisive moments and lifted the trophy by beating local idol Frances Tiafoe in the final.

After winning his first Wimbledon title last month, the 23-year-old from Sesto Pusteria went on holiday to Sardinia and preferred to skip the Toronto Masters 1000 (where he had triumphed two years ago starting his rise). The four-time Grand Slam champion – who has also decided to reinstate Umberto Ferrara as his fitness coach – has already arrived in Ohio and immediately started practicing to get used to the conditions.

Jannik wants to defend the title he won there last season and above all he wants to gain confidence in view of the US Open, which will start on August 24 in New York. As everyone knows, most of the top players will also play mixed doubles in this edition and Sinner will join forces with Emma Navarro.

Sanguinetti opens up on Sinner 

In a recent interview with 'SuperTennis', former ATP ace Davide Sanguinetti expressed his honest opinion on Sinner's current status: "He is a war machine who stops at nothing, he knows what his goals are and gives his best to achieve them. It must also be added that players are very professional nowadays and take care of every detail, whereas in my time we traveled almost alone.

Jannik deserves to be thanked because he has contributed more than anyone else to the growth of Italian tennis, everyone knows him in Italy and wants to become like him."

The world No.1 will have a first-round bye in Cincinnati and will make his debut directly in the second round.

Adriano Panatta reveals the secret behind Jannik Sinner's greatness

Adriano

Jannik Sinner's last two seasons have projected him into a new dimension. The Italian ace has not only become the best player in the world together with Carlos Alcaraz, but has shown consistency combined with mental strength that have few equals in the history of tennis.

The current world number 1 wants to enter the list of the best ever and works hard every day to achieve this goal, while being aware that he still has a long way to go to reach certain legends who have become icons all over the planet.

The 23-year-old from Sesto Pusteria has already won four Grand Slam titles and a few weeks ago he took away the enormous satisfaction of winning Wimbledon for the first time in his career, taking revenge on his top rival Alcaraz who had beaten him in the Roland Garros final after canceling three match points in a row.

Panatta speaks about Sinner

Jannik is aiming to defend his title at the US Open later this summer and is practicing in Monte Carlo right now, after deciding to skip the Toronto Masters 1000 to recharge his batteries. He will return to action in Cincinnati next month and will also be called upon to defend his title in Ohio, where he had beaten Frances Tiafoe in the final of the 2024 edition.

The Italian star has just celebrated his 60th week in a row at the top of the ATP rankings and will try to maintain this position until the end of the season, although it will not be easy given the huge amount of points he will have to defend in the coming months.

During a long interview with the Italian magazine 'TV Sorrisi e Canzoni', Adriano Panatta explained what makes his young compatriot so special: "The mind is definitely the main factor that differentiates Sinner from all the other players. He is never satisfied and always studies new methods to improve together with his team.

His game is quite basic, he doesn't have a lot of variation, but the truth is that no one can keep up with his pace for an extended period of time."

Watch: Novak Djokovic tries surfing in Croatia

Belgrade

Novak Djokovic has not yet revealed his schedule ahead of the US Open, which will start in less than a month in New York. The former world No. 1 has only announced that he will not participate in the 2025 edition of the Toronto Masters 1000, a decision that is not surprising considering that the Serbian legend has not played in Canada since 2018.

The 38-year-old from Belgrade suffered a small muscle problem during the Wimbledon Championships, in which he reached the semifinals losing decisively to current world number 1 Jannik Sinner. During the subsequent press conference, Nole admitted that his body no longer gives him the same guarantees as a few years ago and emphasized how hard it is to compete with opponents much younger than him at this stage of his career.

At the same time, Djokovic does not seem to have any intention of giving up and still dreams of becoming the oldest ever to win a Major title. He will not start among the favorites even at the US Open, where he lifted his latest trophy in 2023 by beating Daniil Medvedev in the final.

Novak will certainly have less pressure than usual in the Big Apple and will also have to hope for a bit of luck, otherwise it will be difficult to defeat Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz who have taken control of the men's tour by sharing the last seven Grand Slam titles.

Nole is having fun in Croatia

Barring any surprises, the Serbian veteran is expected to participate in the Cincinnati Masters 1000 before the US Open. He won his latest title in Ohio two years ago by beating Alcaraz at the end of an epic final, while last year he skipped this event to recharge his batteries after the Paris Olympics.

Meanwhile, Nole was spotted enjoying his holidays in Croatia and was joined by former Real Madrid star Luka Modric. In a video circulating on social media, Novak can be seen having fun on an electric surfboard.

Carlos Alcaraz can become World No.1 already after 2025 US Open: all details inside

2025 US Open

If he participated in the Toronto Masters 1000, Carlos Alcaraz would have had a chance to get closer to Jannik Sinner in the ATP rankings. The world No. 1 was the first to announce his absence in Canada, having to recharge his batteries after winning the Wimbledon title for the first time in his career.

A few days later, the 22-year-old Spaniard made the same decision having played many matches in recent months. The five-time Grand Slam champion made it to the bottom of every tournament, lifting his second trophy in a row at Roland Garros and reaching another final at Church Road (lost to his top rival in four sets).

The world number 2 will return to action in Cincinnati and will use this tournament as a test in view of the US Open, where he had a disastrous run last year being eliminated already in the second round.

The rivalry continues

Sinner will have to defend 3000 points between Cincinnati and the US Open, in addition to losing the 200 points obtained in Montreal last year.

This means that Alcaraz has a real chance to overtake his top rival already by the end of the summer, but to succeed in this feat he would have to win the title in both Ohio and New York.

The Italian ace will have many more points to defend than the Spanish star even in the latter part of the season, considering that he had triumphed at the Shanghai Masters 1000 and the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin in 2024.

Carlos – on the contrary – had not particularly shone in the second half of last season, except for his victory at the Beijing ATP 500 beating Jannik at the end of a truly spectacular final.

This rivalry is set to electrify fans in the second half of 2025 as they wait to see if any other players can become dangerous to their dominance. The general feeling is that these two young champions are taking tennis into a new dimension, creating a huge gap compared to all their opponents.

Picture: Novak Djokovic takes paradise break in Mykonos with his family

accomplished player

After the semi-final run at Wimbledon and his fifth straight loss to Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic is enjoying a well-earned break with his family on the stunning Greek island of Mykonos.

The legend has embraced the summer sun, extending his vacation after previously spending time in Montenegro and Croatia, his regular July destinations.

Known for his intense dedication to outdoor activities with his kids, Novak is now fully embracing that mode – beaches, clear blue waters and quality time with his beloved ones away from the court.

Mykonos, with its idyllic landscapes and calm atmosphere, offers the perfect setting for Djokovic to recharge physically and mentally ahead of the upcoming challenges in Cincinnati and the US Open.

The 38-year-old should hit the court again in two weeks at the Masters 1000 event in Cincinnati. It will be Novak's first hard-court event since fighting for the Miami Masters crown at the end of March.

Djokovic defends only 100 points at the upcoming two notable events. That opens the window for him to reduce the gap to the rivals in front of him, especially if he embraces deep runs in Ohio and New York.

Novak Djokovic, Wimbledon 2025

Novak Djokovic, Wimbledon 2025© Stream screenshot

 

Novak is eager to play at his best at the US Open and extend his notable run at Majors, having reached three semi-finals in 2025. For now, the 24-time Major winner remains in vacation mode, soaking up the Aegean sun and preparing for the road ahead.

Despite his age, the 38-year-old is still the third-strongest link on the ATP Tour this season, miles behind Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner but still in front of much younger competitors. 

The most accomplished player of all time is still eager to chase notable titles and extend his everlasting legacy for a few more years.

Watch: Carlos Alcaraz is back to practice ahead of Cincinnati and US Open

Carlitos

The first half of the 2025 season gave Carlos Alcaraz five titles – in Rotterdam, Monte Carlo, Rome, Roland Garros and Queen's respectively – while he missed out on his third win in a row at the Wimbledon Championships due to a deluxe version of Jannik Sinner, who defeated him on the iconic Centre Court to become the first Italian ever to win the world's most famous tournament.

The 22-year-old Spaniard can be very satisfied with how he reacted to the difficulties of the beginning of the year, when he was unable to express his best tennis and had also had a small crisis after the shocking elimination against David Goffin in the second round of the Miami Open.

The five-time Grand Slam champion has made no secret of the fact that he will give his best in the second half of 2025 to return to the top of the ATP rankings, knowing that his top rival Sinner will have to defend many more points than him from Cincinnati onwards.

Both Carlos and Jannik will skip the Toronto Masters 1000 which begins next week and will return to action directly in Ohio, where Alcaraz's run in 2024 had already ended in the second round due to the fatigue accumulated at the Paris Olympics.

Alcaraz practices

Like all the other top players, the champion from Murcia also took a little vacation after the Championships and recently returned to practice at the 'La Manga Club'.

The world number 2 knows that he has to change something from the past, as his level dropped significantly in the second half of the year in both 2023 and 2024. After winning his second Wimbledon title last season, Carlitos has not expressed his best level and has only triumphed at the Beijing ATP 500 by beating Sinner in an epic final.

It's no secret that the Spanish star's main goal is the US Open, which kicks off on August 24 in New York.

Carlos Alcaraz has made unusual decision for him: all the details

Barcelona

The last three and a half months have been particularly intense for Carlos Alcaraz, who has played numerous tournaments and has always reached at least the final. The world number 2 only missed the Mutua Madrid Open due to a small physical problem, while in the other events in which he participated he reached the end lifting the trophy in Monte Carlo, Rome, Roland Garros and Queen's (not forgetting the final in Barcelona).

The 22-year-old Spaniard also reached the final act at the Wimbledon Championships for the third year in a row, but failed to triumph this time as he was defeated in four sets by his top rival Jannik Sinner. There is no doubt that the five-time Grand Slam champion has used a lot of energies this part of the season and needs to recharge his batteries now, which is why he has decided to skip the Canadian Open, which begins in Toronto later this month.

Since the former world number 1 had not played in Canada last year either, he would have had the chance to gain points on Sinner in the ATP rankings and get closer to the first position. The Italian ace will not be present in Ontario either, and both will be back in action in Cincinnati next month.

Alcaraz is more mature

Carlitos reached the final in Ohio in 2023, losing to Novak Djokovic at the end of an epic challenge, while in the last edition he was eliminated by Gael Monfils already in the second round. The former world No.1 will not have to defend as many points even at the US Open, the tournament where he won his first Major title in 2022, as he was eliminated in the second round last year.

In a recent interview with 'La Gazzetta dello Sport', the Spanish star did not hide that one of his goals in the second half of the year is to dethrone Sinner and return to the top of the ATP rankings. However, his choice to skip Toronto certifies a higher maturity than in the past combined with the awareness of having to change something.