Alexander Zverev has raised doubts about his physical condition following a hard-earned victory over Ben Shelton at the Cincinnati Open. The German star, who has been steadily regaining form in recent months, admitted that he experienced a sudden dip in well-being during the match, casting uncertainty over his readiness for the upcoming clash with Carlos Alcaraz.

A promising start followed by unexpected discomfort

Zverev began the match against Shelton with confidence, noting afterward that he initially felt better than he had in weeks. “I came out today and probably felt the best I did in a few months,” he said. However, his momentum was disrupted toward the end of the first set, when he began to feel unwell. “End of the first set started feeling not so great and got progressively worse,” he explained, suggesting that the issue may have been physical rather than tactical.

Time to recover before facing Alcaraz

With a day off before his next match, Zverev hopes to recover in time to face Alcaraz, one of the most formidable opponents on the tour. “Right now I’m not feeling too great, we’ll see I have a day to get fresh and to hopefully feel 100% again,” he said. The brief window for rest and treatment will be crucial, as Alcaraz’s relentless style demands peak fitness and sharp reflexes.

Implications for the tournament

Zverev’s condition adds an element of unpredictability to the upcoming quarterfinal. Fans and analysts alike are watching closely to see whether the German can bounce back in time. His performance against Shelton showed flashes of brilliance, but facing Alcaraz will require sustained excellence and resilience.

Support and speculation from the tennis world

Reactions to Zverev’s comments have been mixed, with some expressing concern and others hopeful that he will recover quickly. The tennis world is no stranger to sudden physical setbacks, and Zverev’s transparency has sparked conversations about player health and scheduling demands. As the Cincinnati Open progresses, all eyes will be on his recovery and the intensity of the battle that awaits.

Zverev in Cincinnati, ranking, and results in 2025

Currently ranked no.3, Alexander has achieved a composed 43-15 record in 2025. The German is competing in Cincinnati where he ousted the world no.109 Nishesh Basavareddy 6-3 6-3, the world no.31 Brandon Nakashima 6-4 6-4, the world no.12 Karen Khachanov 7-5 3-0 ret. and the world no.6 Ben Shelton 6-2 6-2.

Alexander Zverev will play the world no.2 Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinal on Saturday at 6:00 pm on CENTER COURT. Their current record is 6-5 for Zverev.

The German clinched 1 title in 2025 in Munich. Alexander reached the final at the Australian Open and in Stuttgart (Boss Open).

The German 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)

Alcaraz in Cincinnati, ranking, and results in 2025

Currently the world no.2, Carlos owns a composed 52-6 win-loss record in 2025. Carlos is competing in Cincinnati where he overcame the world no.56 Damir Dzumhur 6-1 2-6 6-3, the world no.72 Hamad Medjedovic 6-4 6-4, the world no.98 Luca Nardi 6-1 6-4 and the world no.11 Andrey Rublev 6-3 4-6 7-5.

Carlos Alcaraz will compete against the world no.3 Alexander Zverev in the semifinal on Saturday at 6:00 pm on CENTER COURT. Their actual head to head record is 6-5 for Zverev.

Carlos has won 5 titles in 2025 in Rotterdam, Monte-Carlo, Rome, French Open and London. Alcaraz got to the final in Barcelona (Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell) and in Wimbledon.

Carlos won 22 titles in his career: 5 on hard courts, 11 on clay courts, 2 on indoor courts and 4 on grass courts. (See the list of his titles)

Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz fought against each other 11 times. Their current head to head is 6-5 for Zverev.