As the tennis world converges on Cincinnati, the stakes are high and the calculations are getting intricate! If we take a glance at the current layout of the event, Alexander Zverev has the upper hand. The last year’s semifinalist at the tournament is one step away from making a similar feat this season. However, in a fascinating twist of fate, his potential success in the event could prove to be the lifeline Carlos Alcaraz needs against Novak Djokovic for the upcoming U.S. Open!

Zverev, a former Cincinnati champion, is making a strong bid to reclaim the title. The fourth seed is currently in the quarterfinals, facing Ben Shelton. Should he continue his winning streak, a second Cincinnati trophy seems within reach. However, his success could significantly impact the seedings of Djokovic and Alcaraz, currently ranked second and third respectively.

A Zverev triumph in Cincinnati would elevate him to the second seed at the US Open, surpassing Djokovic who opted out of the tournament, and demoting the Serbian to the third seed. Such a seeding shake-up would significantly alter the US Open draw, positioning Alcaraz, the world number three, in a more favorable quarter. Given the tournament’s seeding rules, a Zverev win would ensure a tantalizing Alcaraz-Djokovic final, as the top four seeds would be divided across the draw.

In essence, Zverev’s triumph in Cincinnati would grant Alcaraz, who lost the final match against Djokovic at the Olympics, a temporary reprieve from the daunting prospect of facing the 37-year-old in the earlier rounds of the U.S. Open! Moreover, Carlitos’ early round loss in Cincinnati further indicates that he might not be willing to be up against Djokovic again so soon. This season, we witnessed the duo’s incredible face-offs in the finals of the Grand Slams just a few weeks ago at Wimbledon.

While Alcaraz reigned supreme on that occasion, at the 2024 Paris Olympics, it was Djokovic’s turn to shine and snatch away the power from the 21-year-old Spaniard and earn a Gold medal. Besides, if we look at the overall statistics of their clashes over the last couple of years, Djokovic has been successful in establishing a 4-3 lead over the four-time Grand Slam champion. As a result, it is fair to say that Alcaraz needs to pull up his socks and give tough competition to Djokovic soon!

However, more than the results, it is the overall aura of their nail-biting battles on-court that we love to watch, especially in the final matches! Last year, the 24 Grand Slam champion added a fourth U.S. Open title to his career achievements. But the year before that, it was Alcaraz who clinched his maiden title in New York, so the question is: whose turn it is to win this time? While Djokovic is preparing his best to defend his title, Alcaraz has found himself in a tense position ahead of the upcoming event in the U.S.A.!

Alcaraz opens up on the “worst” match of his career ahead of the U.S. Open

It has been six years since Alcaraz has turned pro, but we have never seen him smash his racquet on-court with frustration. However, this changed during his round-of-32 match against Gael Monfils in Cincinnati. The reigning Roland Garros and Wimbledon champion failed to put his best tennis on display against his French opponent (4-6, 7-6, 6-4). Understandably heartbroken after the match, he said,

“It was the worst match that I ever played in my career.” He further added, “I don’t know what happened. Honestly, I couldn’t, I couldn’t control myself. I couldn’t be better. It was impossible to win, and that’s all. I came here thinking I’m going to feel good. I’m going to put in a good tennis, because I know how to play on this court.”

Nevertheless, Alcaraz mentioned how he will try to improve his tennis even more from here on. However, as the tournament slowly comes to an end, all eyes are on Zverev. And one thing is certain: the Cincinnati Masters just got a lot more interesting!