CINCINNATI: Carlos Alca­raz beat Hamad Medjedovic 6-4, 6-4 to reach the Cincinnati Open last 16 on Tuesday, battling the sweltering Ohio heat to notch a tour-leading 50th victory of the season.

The Spaniard moved through hours before an evening rainstorms and lightning spoiled the night-time scenario, leaving men’s and women’s third seeds stranded in third round matches.

Alexander Zverev was set to serve for the match against Brandon Nakashima, leading the American 6-4, 5-4 when the match was forced off court by the threat of lightning..

It was a similar situation for American Jessica Pegula, fighting back against Pole Magda Linette who won the first set 7-6 (7/5), before last year’s finalist claimed the second 6-3.

Toronto champion Ben Shelton never got on court against Roberto Bautista Agut due to rainstorm conditions that forced officials to call it a night early.

Second seed Alcaraz secured his 13th consecutive win at an ATP Masters 1000 tournament, converting three of seven break points in a deliberate, slow-paced contest.

Treated for neck pain after the first set, Serbia’s Medjedovic ramped up in the second to shorten rallies, out-hitting Alcaraz 25 to 16 on winners but committing 38 unforced errors to the Spaniard’s 18.

“I know he’s a really powerful player,” Alcaraz said.

“His shots are incredibly hard to return. He has a big serve also. I know he doesn’t like to run too much from side to side, so my plan was to make him run as much as I could.”

Monte Carlo and Rome champion Alcaraz next faces Italian Luca Nardi after the Italian defeated Jakob Mensik 6-2, 2-1 with the Czech retiring after 42 minutes.

Earlier, Andrey Rublev rallied from a set down to edge Alexei Popyrin 6-7 (5/7), 7-6 (7/5), 7-5 in a fierce 3½-hour battle.

The Russian ninth seed will play against Argentine Franciso Comesana, who claimed a stunning 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 7-5 win over American Reilly Opelka.

In the WTA draw, second seed Coco Gauff eased into the fourth round when opponent Dayana Yastremska withdrew before their Tuesday match.

The American will face Lucia Bronzetti, who beat 23rd seed Jelena Ostapenko 1-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Seventh seed Jasmine Paolini, last season’s Roland Garros and Wimbledon finalist, defeated American Ashlyn Krueger 7-6, (7/2), 6-1 while German qualifier Ella Seidel continued her strong showing with a 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (8/6) defeat of McCartney Kessler.

Two-time Grand Slam champion Barbora Krejcikova outlasted American Iva Jovic 6-4, 3-6, 6-2.

Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2025