Alexander Zverev Eyes Cincinnati Round of 16 as He takes on Brandon Nakashima
Alexander Zverev, the world No. 3, moved into the Cincinnati Open Round of 32 with a straight-forward win over Nishesh Basavareddy, setting up a harder test against American Brandon Nakashima. If the German can prevail, he would advance to a potential rematch of the Tokyo Olympics final against Karen Khachanov in the Round of 16.
Zverev’s recent form has been solid on the hard courts in North America. He reached the final in Toronto last week, where his bid fell short against Khachanov, a result that leaves him hungry for a deeper run in Cincinnati as he eyes a push toward New York. The veteran 28-year-old has claimed one title in 2025, triumphing at the BMW Open in Munich, and sits on a 13-5 record on this surface this season. Off the court, Zverev has spoken about the importance of competitive consistency and setting a positive example as a father and philanthropist.
On the other side, 24-year-old Brandon Nakashima has been quietly thriving in a busy campaign. Ranked No. 31, he has posted a 25-20 record in 2025, reaching four quarterfinals and two semifinals. He’s also shown strong serve dynamics on hard courts, winning a robust portion of service games. Nakashima produced a three-set win over Blockx to reach this stage, a testament to his tenacity when the match matters.
Head-to-head history favors Zverev by a clean 4-0 margin. Their most recent meeting came at the Boss Open in Stuttgart earlier this year, and this will be their first Masters-1000 clash and only the third meeting on American soil. The Cincinnati Round of 16 appearance would set the stage for a possible clash with Khachanov or Brooksby, who linger as possible obstacles in the next round.
Past meetings show Zverev’s ability to shape points with his big first serve and aggressive baseline play. Nakashima, who thrives on home support, will need to elevate his serve and remain solid under pressure to derail the higher-ranked opponent. Zverev is favored to advance, with bookmakers listing him as the slight favorite to win in straight sets.
Match odds and betting view
– Alexander Zverev win: 3/10
– Brandon Nakashima win: 13/5
– Total games over 22.5: 3/4
– Total games by Nakashima under 11.5: 10/11
– Total games by Zverev under 13.5: 8/15
– Zverev to win 2-0: 4/5
– At least one tiebreak in the match: 17/20
Outlook and takeaway
– Zverev will be looking to translate his strong surface play into a clean path toward the Round of 16 and beyond, leveraging his big serve and depth on the baseline.
– Nakashima’s home-court familiarity and competitive resilience make him a credible upset candidate if he can capitalize on break opportunities and maintain service pressure.
– The potential matchup against Khachanov or Brooksby promises a high-stakes next step, especially if Zverev can maintain his recent hard-court form.
Summary
Zverev carries momentum from a solid Cincinnati start and a still-strong hard-court record into a clash with Nakashima that could set up a high-profile Round of 16 meeting with Khachanov or Brooksby. A win would reinforce his title credentials this season and keep his bid for a deep run in New York very much alive.
Possible positive angle
If Zverev can extend his run here, his blend of experience, big game and calm on big stages could make him a realistic title contender as the summer hard-court swing heads toward its climax.
Note for readers
As Cincinnati builds toward the later rounds, fans can expect to see two aggressive baseliners duel with power serves and clutch returning, a formula that often produces compelling late-summer tennis.