Tennis-Paul ousts top seed Zverev to reach Cincinnati quarter-finals


Aug 19, 2026; Mason, OH, USA; Tommy Paul (USA) returns a shot against Alexander Zverev (GER) during the Cincinnati Open at Lindner Family Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images

(Corrects spelling of 'quarter-finals' ⁠in headline)

Aug 19 (Reuters) - Tommy Paul saved a ⁠match point to defeat top seed ‌Alexander Zverev 4-6 7-6(6) 6-4 and reach the quarter-finals of the Cincinnati Open on Wednesday after a nearly 90-minute ​rain delay.

German world number three ⁠Zverev took the ⁠first set and trailed 3-4 in the second before ⁠the ‌fourth-round match was suspended due to rain.

Paul emerged from the lengthy delay ⁠looking the sharper player, saving a ​match point ‌before levelling the contest as Zverev struggled to ⁠find ​his rhythm.

The German took a 4-2 lead in the third set but Paul dug his heels ⁠in to take control of ​the match, rallying to win four straight games in a stunning comeback to advance to the ⁠quarter-finals in Cincinnati for the first time.

Zverev's 14 aces were accompanied by nine double faults, with his service game looking shaky at times ​after he was called for ⁠a foot fault in the third set.

Paul will ​next play Flavio Cobolli ‌after the Italian earlier defeated ​Spain'sRafael Jodar 4-6 7-6(3) 6-3.

(Reporting by Nicole Fernandes in TorontoEditing by Toby Davis)

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