Paul Saves Match Point to Oust Top Seed Zverev in Cincinnati

Rain, a Match Point, and an Unlikely Hero

Tommy Paul reached the Cincinnati quarterfinals for the first time in his career on Wednesday night, eliminating top seed Alexander Zverev 4-6, 7-6 (8-6), 6-4 in one of the most dramatic matches of the 2026 hardcourt season. The American, ranked 18th in the world, saved a match point in the second-set tiebreak and then held off a Zverev break in the third to complete a historic upset at the Cincinnati Open.

Zverev had been the overwhelming favourite to reach the last eight and beyond. The reigning French Open champion had not dropped a set in his first rounds and brought a dominant game to the court. He confirmed that early when he took the opener 6-4 without significant difficulty, suggesting a routine evening was ahead for the German.

The Storm That Changed Everything

The second set altered the complexion of the match entirely, aided by a thunderstorm. With Zverev holding a 4-3 advantage in the seventh game, rain forced the players off the court for 90 minutes. When play resumed, Paul's tennis had a completely different edge. He levelled at 4-4, held comfortably and pushed the set to a tiebreak.

The mini-set produced the defining moment of the evening. Zverev moved ahead to 6-5 in the tiebreak and had a match point on his racket — a volley into the net sent the point to Paul. The American seized the momentum and won five of the next six exchanges to take the tiebreak 8-6 and level the match at one set apiece. It was Paul's third win over Zverev in their last four meetings on tour.

Zverev Fights Back, Paul Fights Harder

The deciding set initially appeared to swing Zverev's way. The German broke serve to move ahead 4-2 and looked poised to assert himself. Paul responded immediately, breaking back in the very next game to make it 3-4. He then pressed again and broke once more to lead 5-4, before serving out the match with authority. The final scoreline — 4-6, 7-6 (8-6), 6-4 — barely reflected the tension of an encounter that lasted two hours and 50 minutes including the rain interruption.

Zverev, who had entered Cincinnati as the favourite for his first title at this event, exits in the round of 16. He had converted no match points when it mattered and was unable to find a decisive break when leading in the third set. For the German, the hardcourt preparation for the US Open now heads in a different direction.

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Three Americans, Three Wins Against Seeds

Paul was not the only American to deliver on Wednesday. Frances Tiafoe provided the afternoon's headline result, defeating second seed Félix Auger-Aliassime 6-3, 6-4 in a dominant display that combined powerful serving with aggressive net-rushing. Sixth seed Taylor Fritz also progressed, defeating Christopher O'Connell 6-4, 6-3 to reach the Cincinnati quarterfinals for the first time since 2023. With Paul, Tiafoe and Fritz all through, three Americans are among the last eight — the seeds ranked first and second in the draw have both been eliminated.

Paul Takes On Cobolli in the Quarterfinal

Paul's opponent in the last eight will be Italian Flavio Cobolli, who edged teenage Spanish sensation Rafael Jódar 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-3 later on Wednesday. It was Cobolli's third consecutive three-set victory in Cincinnati, a run that has carried him into the first Masters 1000 hardcourt quarterfinal of his career. The Paul-Cobolli quarterfinal at the Cincinnati Open is scheduled for Thursday, and with both Zverev and Daniil Medvedev already gone, the draw is wide open.

Corrected on 4 October 2026: result amended.