Karen Khachanov was forced to withdraw from his match against Alexander Zverev at the Cincinnati Open, bringing an abrupt end to their third-round encounter. After dropping the first set 7-5 and trailing 3-0 in the second, Khachanov signaled his retirement, allowing Zverev to advance without completing the match.

Injury halts Khachanov’s campaign

The decision to retire was prompted by an apparent physical issue that Khachanov could no longer manage on court. Though the exact nature of the injury was not immediately disclosed, his movement had visibly declined, and he appeared to be in discomfort during the latter stages of the first set.

Zverev progresses with mixed emotions

While Zverev moves on to the next round, the victory came under unfortunate circumstances. The match had been competitive early on, with both players trading powerful baseline shots and holding serve through most of the first set. Zverev expressed concern for his opponent and acknowledged the difficulty of winning in such a manner.

Implications for Khachanov’s season

Khachanov’s withdrawal raises questions about his fitness heading into the final stretch of the season. With the US Open approaching, his recovery will be closely monitored. Injuries have disrupted his momentum in the past, and this latest setback could impact his preparation for upcoming tournaments.

A disappointing end to a promising matchup

Fans had anticipated a hard-fought battle between two top-tier players, but the match ended prematurely. Despite the disappointment, Khachanov’s health takes priority, and the hope remains that he will return to full strength soon. Zverev, meanwhile, continues his campaign in Cincinnati with renewed focus.

Zverev in Cincinnati, ranking, and results in 2025

Now the world no.3, the German has a compiled 42-15 record in 2025. Alexander is currently competing in Cincinnati where he bested the world no.109 Nishesh Basavareddy 6-3 6-3, the world no.31 Brandon Nakashima 6-4 6-4

and the world no.12 Karen Khachanov 7-5 3-0 ret..

Alexander clinched 1 title in 2025 in Munich. The German was the runner-up at the Australian Open and in Stuttgart (Boss Open).

Zverev won 25 titles in his career: 8 on hard courts, 9 on clay courts and 8 on indoor courts. (See the list of his titles)

Karen Khachanov in 2025

Currently the world no.12, the Russian played his last match on the 13^th of August when he had to retire when playing against world no.3 Alexander Zverev in the 4^th round and the scoreline was 7-5 3-0 .

Currently, during this season Khachanov owns a composed 29-18 match record. Karen Khachanov’s best result of the present season was reaching the final in Toronto.

Alexander Zverev and Karen Khachanov played each other 9 times. Their current head to head is 6-3 for Zverev.