Tommy Paul Upsets Zverev 4-6, 7-6, 6-4 to Lead American Surge in Cincinnati

Tommy Paul overcame a set deficit and a 90-minute rain delay to defeat top seed Alexander Zverev 4-6, 7-6, 6-4 at the Cincinnati Open.

Tommy Paul secured a 4-6, 7-6, 6-4 comeback victory over top-seeded French Open champion Alexander Zverev on Wednesday in Mason, Ohio. The match endured a 90-minute rain delay during the second set before Paul finalized the upset to earn a quarterfinal spot against Flavio Cobolli. Simultaneously, Jessica Pegula defeated Sorana Cirstea 6-2, 4-6, 7-5, marking her 43rd win of 2026—the highest total on the WTA Tour this year. This victory propels Pegula into her fourth career quarterfinal appearance at this tournament.

Amanda Anisimova joined the quarterfinal field by eliminating Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova with a 6-1, 6-4 scoreline. Anisimova is scheduled to face Pegula in the next round. Fourth-ranked Coco Gauff, the 2023 champion, advanced by defeating Marie Bouzkova 6-3, 6-2. Despite recording six double faults, Gauff completed the match in 1 hour and 33 minutes. Madison Keys rounded out the historic day for the host nation by beating Wang Xiyu 7-6, 6-4. With Keys’ advancement, four American women have reached the quarterfinals, the highest number at this event since 2004.

Men's Singles Draw Progressions

Taylor Fritz remains the highest-ranked American man in the bracket following a 6-4, 6-3 straight-sets win over Australian Christopher O'Connell. Brandon Nakashima also advanced by defeating Nuno Borges 6-3, 6-7, 6-3, securing back-to-back quarterfinal appearances in the process. Their next opponent, Flavio Cobolli, reached his first Cincinnati quarterfinal by rallying past Rafael Jodar 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Thiago Agustin Tirante became the first Argentine player to reach the final eight in Cincinnati since Juan Martín del Potro in 2018. Tirante, who previously eliminated Novak Djokovic in the second round, defeated Jakub Mensik 5-7, 6-4, 6-4. The Wednesday night schedule, which included matches for Frances Tiafoe and women's top seed Aryna Sabalenka, was pushed back due to persistent weather interruptions.

Defending Champions and Seeded Results

Defending champion Iga Swiatek extended her current winning streak to nine matches by defeating France’s Diane Parry 6-3, 6-3. Swiatek moves on to face No. 2 seed Elena Rybakina, a player who has not dropped a single set yet in this tournament. In other women's action, Marta Kostyuk recovered from a set down to beat 19-year-old Mirra Andreeva 4-6, 6-0, 6-2. This result served as revenge for Kostyuk, who had previously lost to Andreeva in the Roland Garros semifinals.

Tournament Statistical Milestones

The Cincinnati Open results on Wednesday established several benchmarks for American tennis. Pegula’s 43 wins lead all players on the WTA Tour for the 2026 season. The presence of four American women in the quarterfinals—Pegula, Anisimova, Gauff, and Keys—marks a 22-year high for the event. While Gauff struggled with six double faults, her efficiency allowed her to exit the court in under 95 minutes. The rain delay, lasting nearly an hour and a half, specifically impacted the momentum of the Paul-Zverev match during the middle frame, yet Paul managed to overturn the one-set deficit upon resumption.