Carlos Alcaraz kicks off his Cincinnati Open journey feeling refreshed and ready, set to face Damir Dzumhur, ranked No. 56, in the second round. This match comes after Alcaraz’s last appearance at Wimbledon this summer, marking a brief hiatus from competitive play.
Dzumhur, having successfully navigated the qualifiers, enters this contest with confidence following a strong first-round victory. His 2025 season is notable for several Challenger titles and a commendable performance at Indian Wells where he pushed Frances Tiafoe to a close straight-sets defeat.
Alcaraz, on the other hand, has maintained consistency this season, although he’s yet to replicate the dominance demonstrated in previous years. The 22-year-old has reached the semifinals in all three Grand Slam events so far, clinching his second consecutive title at Roland Garros in June. Additionally, he secured a Masters 1000 title in Madrid and reached finals in both Miami and Indian Wells, although he fell short against Jannik Sinner in those encounters.
As Cincinnati serves as both preparation and a checkpoint for Alcaraz, he aims to gain momentum heading into the final major tournament of the year, seeking to capture a title that has eluded him thus far.
In their previous matchups, Alcaraz holds a 2–0 lead over Dzumhur, with victories in both their meetings at Roland Garros and a Challenger event in Barcelona in 2020, both played on clay.
Expectations are high for Alcaraz to win in straight sets due to his versatile all-court style, likely allowing him to counter Dzumhur’s varied play effectively.
The matchup is slated to begin at approximately 3:10 PM Eastern time at the Lindner Family Tennis Center, following Coco Gauff’s recent win over Wang Xinyu. Fans can catch the action live on the Tennis Channel or via streaming options, including Amazon Prime Video.
This anticipated match displays the excitement of tennis as Alcaraz looks to reassert his dominance as he gears up for the latter part of the season.