The world’s top player, Carlos Alcaraz, earned a hard‑fought win to outlast American Tommy Paul at the Cincinnati Masters, advancing to the quarterfinals with a 1-6, 7-6, 6-3 final score after a grueling three hours and nine minutes.
The Spaniard, facing a match that stretched beyond reasonable expectations and even endured a rain delay, showed a steady resolve. Paul seemed comfortable at times, testing Alcaraz’s form, while the reigning Wimbledon champion needed to summon extra energy and composure to turn the momentum in his favor as the rain interrupted play on multiple occasions.
Paul captured the upper hand in the early stages, clinching the first set with accuracy and purpose. He looked poised to close out the encounter in two sets, but Alcaraz answered with a renewed surge, mixing aggression with precision and taking advantage of every breath of opportunity. The tactical shift and timely adjustments restored balance to the match, setting the stage for a dramatic comeback.
Alcaraz has had a mixed recent run against Paul, including losses in Montreal and Toronto in the weeks prior. Yet in the Miami Masters 1000, he managed to overturn a similar situation, signaling a willingness to fight through pressure and adapt under adverse conditions. The American, who sits at number 13 in the world rankings, harbored a strong desire to derail the Spaniard’s ascent, looking to extend his own good streak on hard courts this season.
Toronto’s build-up underscored the challenge of finding rhythm quickly on a fast hard court, where even a confident player can struggle to settle. The match in Cincinnati saw Alcaraz facing a high-intensity test on the surface, with wind and environmental factors adding to the complexity. The New Jersey native Paul opened the proceedings with enterprise, breaking early in the first set and racing to a 4-2 lead before the Spaniard found his footing. Paul then served for the set at 5-3, but Alcaraz steadied, forced a decider through a tense tiebreak, and dominated the tiebreak to claim the second set 7-0, signaling a pivotal shift in momentum.
The third set opened with Alcaraz asserting himself, capitalizing on break opportunities and applying pressure from the baseline. Paul responded with resilience, keeping the match within reach and fighting back from 4-1 down to create a compelling contest. Yet the rhythm shifted again as rain interrupted play and forced a lengthy pause. When action resumed, Alcaraz appeared composed and relentless, breaking Paul’s serve to seize control and close out the match in three hours and nine minutes overall. The result kept the world number one on track toward defending his ranking and continuing his strong run on solid hard courts.
Looking ahead, Alcaraz prepared to meet Max Purcell of Australia in the quarterfinals. Purcell had earlier dispatched Stan Wawrinka with decisive straight sets, signaling a tough challenge for the young Spaniard as he aims to extend his Cincinnati campaign. Alcaraz’s recent form suggests he remains at his best when the pressure rises, delivering his best tennis when the stakes are highest and the match demands an all-out effort. The performance reinforced the impression that, on the right day, he can elevate his game to the levels needed to contend for major titles and continue his ascent in the world rankings.