Rain, Records, & Retirements: Drama at the Cincinnati Open

Well, if you were looking for straightforward, predictable tennis, the Cincinnati Open was not the place to be this week. Between persistent rain showers that threw the schedule into chaos and some absolutely gripping on-court drama, it’s been an event to remember. The defending champions, Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka, managed to navigate the storm—both literally and figuratively—to book their spots in the quarter-finals.

Key Highlights

• ✓ Jannik Sinner extended his incredible hardcourt winning streak to 24 consecutive matches.
• ✓ Aryna Sabalenka secured her season-leading 50th match win of 2025.
• ✓ A massive upset saw 136th-ranked Terence Atmane defeat fourth seed Taylor Fritz.
• ✓ The tournament was heavily impacted by rain delays, forcing schedule changes and suspended matches.
• ✓ Both Frances Tiafoe and Karen Khachanov retired from their matches due to injuries.

Sinner’s Unstoppable Hardcourt Run Faces a Test

Let's talk about the world number one, Jannik Sinner. The guy is on an absolute tear on hardcourts, and he came into his match against Adrian Mannarino with a staggering 23-match winning streak on the surface. But Mannarino, the tricky 37-year-old Frenchman ranked 89th, wasn't just going to roll over. Sinner took control early, breaking in the third game and closing out the first set 6-4.

Then, the skies opened up. With Sinner on serve but down 2-1 in the second set, play was suspended for nearly three hours. That kind of interruption can kill anyone's momentum. To pass the time, Sinner, who turns 24 on Saturday, apparently just played cards with his team. When they finally returned, Mannarino was a different player, proving to be a seriously obdurate competitor.

It got intense. Sinner broke to go up 6-5, but while serving for the match, Mannarino produced some inspired tennis, earning his first break point and converting with a stunning forehand return. The set went to a tiebreak, where Sinner finally slammed the door shut with back-to-back aces, clinching it 7-6 (7/4). It was his 24th straight hardcourt win, but it was anything but easy.

💡 Sinner on Mannarino: "He's a very difficult opponent, different from the other players... Not only because he is a leftie but also how he hits the ball - it's very low. It was a struggle to close it out, but I'm happy to be in the quarter-finals."

Sabalenka Hits a Half-Century of Wins

Over on the women's side, Aryna Sabalenka also punched her ticket to the last eight. After a tough three-setter against Emma Raducanu in her previous match, she was clearly hoping for a quicker day at the office against Spain's Jessica Bouzas Maneiro. She got her wish, but not without a little second-set drama of her own.

Sabalenka cruised through the first set 6-1, but things got complicated in the second. She went up a break, only to make a few mistakes that allowed Bouzas Maneiro to break back and level things. But Sabalenka refocused, broke her opponent in the final game, and sealed the 6-1, 7-5 victory. This wasn't just any win; it was her season-leading 50th match win of 2025 and marked her 29th career quarter-final at the elite 1000 level. She later admitted, "I'm glad to win in straight sets - I didn't want to stay for three hours." You can't blame her!

Alcaraz is Peaking at the Right Time

Meanwhile, the electrifying Carlos Alcaraz seems to be hitting his stride. The second seed booked his 18th Masters 1000 quarter-final with a dominant 6-1, 6-4 win over Italian lucky loser Luca Nardi. It wasn't entirely smooth sailing; Alcaraz actually trailed 2-4 in the second set before reeling off four straight games to close it out. Still, this performance clearly pleased him.

"This match was the best so far for me in this tournament," Alcaraz said, noting he's getting used to the heat and humidity. With this victory, the five-time Grand Slam winner has now won an incredible 36 of his last 38 matches. Up next for him is a tough quarter-final against Andrey Rublev, who had a more straightforward win over Francisco Comesana.

A Day of Upsets, Retirements, and Double Duty

Beyond the top seeds, the day was packed with twists and turns. The biggest shocker came from French qualifier Terence Atmane. Ranked 136th in the world, he pulled off a stunning upset, defeating the fourth seed Taylor Fritz 3-6, 7-5, 6-3. After the match, Atmane was almost lost for words: "I can't believe this, I was shaking. I cannot describe this feeling." What a moment for him.

Then you have the curious case of Alexander Zverev. Thanks to the rain, he had to come out on Wednesday to play just one game to complete his 6-4, 6-4 victory over Brandon Nakashima. The whole exercise took less than two minutes! Later that day, he was back on court against Karen Khachanov, and advanced to the quarters when Khachanov had to retire while trailing 7-5, 3-0.

Unfortunately, that wasn't the only retirement. American 10th seed Frances Tiafoe had to call it quits due to lower back pain while trailing Holger Rune 6-4, 3-1. It was a tough sight, as Tiafoe received treatment but ultimately had to walk dejectedly off the court. It was a big win for Rune, who has been dealing with his own injury issues this season.

Swiatek and Others March On

On the women's side, Wimbledon champion and third seed Iga Swiatek also advanced, but it wasn't her cleanest performance. She beat Sorana Cirstea 6-4, 6-3 in a 95-minute match where she committed an uncharacteristic 33 unforced errors. "I wanted to be more solid than in my last match," Swiatek commented, adding, "I'm happy with the level of my focus and the consistency."

Other notable winners included Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime, who set up a quarter-final clash with Sinner, and Toronto winner Ben Shelton, who moved into the last 16. Magda Linette also pulled off a big upset, defeating fourth-seeded American Jessica Pegula to reach the fourth round here for the first time. The stage is definitely set for some blockbuster quarter-final showdowns.

Conclusion

So, what's the takeaway from a wild day at the Cincinnati Open? The defending champions, Sinner and Sabalenka, proved they can handle pressure and interruptions, even if they were tested. Alcaraz is looking more and more like the world-beater we know he is, while the tournament's unpredictable nature has been underscored by a major upset and unfortunate injuries. With the quarter-final matchups now set, it's clear the drama is far from over.