Cincinnati Masters: Alcaraz loses a set but moves into third round

Carlos Alcaraz defeated Damir Dzumhur 6-1, 2-6, 6-3 on Sunday

Carlos Alcaraz, Cincinnati 2025 | © Aaron Doster-Imagn Images/Sipa

Cédric Rouquette

August 10, 2025

Cincinnati Open •Second round • Completed

See draw

D. DzumhurvsC. Alcaraz

Sinner, the metronome. Alcaraz, the brilliantly inconsistent. If the two best tennis players in the world had wanted to play into their own caricatures when starting their summer hard-court season, they couldn’t have done it any better.

The day after Sinner’s quickest win of the season, Alcaraz dropped a set in his opening match against Bosnia’s Damir Dzumhur, ranked No. 56 in the world (6-1, 2-6, 6-3).

At no point did Alcaraz really seem in danger during this match, which came after a three-week absence from the tour following his Wimbledon final. He simply – and rather strangely – lost the second set due to a few too many unforced errors (13 in that set) and because Dzumhur converted both of his break points (100% success on two chances).

Alcaraz “on a rollercoaster”

Back on track in the third set thanks to a break in the fourth game (3-1, then 4-1), Alcaraz again dropped his serve (4-3) before stepping on the gas once more and letting out a rare show of joy for a first-round match.

Alcaraz spent only 1 hour 43 minutes on court, with a generally shaky serve (5 double faults, 60% first serves in, 3 breaks conceded on 3 break points). But the Spaniard played assertively and kept a good attitude throughout, on the same court where he had lost his cool against Gaël Monfils a year ago.

“I feel like I was on a rollercoaster”, he said on court. “A lot of good feelings, a lot of bad feelings… all I can say is happy to get the win at the end… It was a little bit tricky today. Damir plays really smart tennis and I have to be really focused and ready for that.”

“Rest day tomorrow to give myself the confidence back and hopefully be ready for the next round.” Alcaraz, ranked No 2, will face the winner of the match between Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor, the No 26 seed, and Serb Hamad Medjedovic next.