Cincinnati Tennis Recap
Zverev Continues Cincinnati Streak; Williams Sisters' Doubles Return Ends in Loss
Key Points
Zverev closed the Atmane match with a sizzling backhand down the line to seal his Cincinnati fourth-round bid.
"He was playing incredibly aggressively, hitting forehands all over the court. He made it difficult for you to play aggressive yourself," Zverev said after defeating Atmane.
Serena Williams called the doubles reunion with sister Venus 'fun and special' and said it's a limited-time attraction: 'This is not forever. It's not long. We don't have to play every week.'
The Williams sisters lost 6-2, 1-6, 10-8 to Payton Stearns and Marta Kostyuk, after rallying from 8-2 down in the 10-point tie-break; Venus double-fault ended the match.
Alex de Minaur defeated Arthur Fery 7-5, 7-6 (7/3) amid multiple rain interruptions, the Australian up 5-1 in the second before Fery surged and forced a tie-break that De Minaur won.
Top seed Alexander Zverev kept rolling at the Cincinnati Masters on Tuesday, beating Terrance Atmane 7-6(4), 7-6(6) to reach the fourth round with his 46th win of the season. WFMZ reported that Serena and Venus Williams, playing doubles together for the first time since 2022, fell to Payton Stearns and Marta Kostyuk 6-2, 1-6, 10-8 in a heartbreaking final-set tiebreak.
The two storylines dominated the day's action in Cincinnati — one showing a champion at his peak, the other offering a bittersweet farewell to an era of tennis royalty.
Zverev Grinds Out Back-to-Back Tiebreak Win
Zverev, the reigning Roland Garros champion and Wimbledon runner-up, had to work hard for every point. Atmane pushed the German to two tiebreaks. Zverev closed the match with a sizzling backhand down the line. It was his 46th victory of 2025. BSS News noted the win puts him firmly among the title favorites in Cincinnati.
Zverev was candid about the challenge after the match. "He was playing incredibly aggressively, hitting forehands all over the court," Zverev said. "He made it difficult for you to play aggressive yourself." Despite the difficulty, Zverev said it was a step up from his first-round performance.
Williams Sisters Reunite — Then Fall in Tiebreak Heartbreak
Serena and Venus Williams walked onto the doubles court together for the first time since the 2022 US Open. The sisters have won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles and three Olympic gold medals together, according to Flashscore. But the magic did not carry the day. They lost 6-2, 1-6, 10-8 to American Payton Stearns and Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk.
The match ended on a painful note. The Williams pair rallied from 2-8 down in the 10-point tiebreak to make it 8-8. But Venus double-faulted to end the match. Serena kept the mood light afterward. "This is not forever. It's not long. We don't have to play every week," she said, calling the reunion "fun and special."
De Minaur Survives Rain and Fery's Late Surge
Australian Alex de Minaur had a rougher path than the scoreline suggests. He beat Arthur Fery 7-5, 7-6(3), but the match was broken up by multiple rain delays. De Minaur led 5-1 in the second set before Fery surged back to force a tiebreak. Morning Chronicle reported De Minaur held his nerve to close it out 7-3 in the breaker.
What to Watch as the Tournament Heats Up
Zverev's run puts him on track for a deep push in Cincinnati. He has already matched his win total from large stretches of previous seasons. The Williams sisters' doubles stint looks to be short-lived. Serena made clear the US Open — approaching in just days — is the focus. Their cameo in Cincinnati was likely a one-off, not a comeback tour.
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