Swiatek and Zverev Power Through Rain-Delayed Cincinnati Open Matches
The Cincinnati Open continued to experience weather interruptions, but third seeds Iga Swiatek and Alexander Zverev showcased their resilience, advancing to the next round with solid performances on Wednesday.
Swiatek Dominates Cirstea to Reach Quarter-Finals
Iga Swiatek, the reigning Wimbledon champion, maintained her impressive form by defeating Sorana Cirstea 6-4, 6-4. This victory, extending Swiatek’s winning record against Cirstea to 5-0, secured her a spot in the quarter-finals.
Reflecting on her match, Swiatek noted, “We played many tough matches, so I know Sorana can really hit the ball well, especially on faster surfaces.” Despite facing challenges with her first serve, she expressed satisfaction with her second serves, which proved crucial in maintaining control of the match.
Swiatek’s next challenge will come against the winner of the all-Russian contest between Anna Kalinskaya and Ekaterina Alexandrova.
Zverev Completes Victory Over Nakashima Amid Rain Delays
In the men’s draw, Alexander Zverev had a more straightforward path, finishing off Brandon Nakashima 6-4, 6-4 after their match resumed from a rain delay. Zverev had been leading 5-4 in the second set when the match was suspended, but he quickly closed out the game when play resumed.
Looking ahead, Zverev is set to face Karen Khachanov in a rematch following his semi-final loss to the Russian in Toronto last week.
Linette Upsets Fourth Seed Pegula
In another notable match, Polish player Magda Linette pulled off an upset by defeating fourth seed Jessica Pegula 7-6(5), 3-6, 6-3. Their match extended over two days due to rain, with Linette breaking Pegula early in the deciding set to secure her second Top-10 win of the season.
