Alexander Zverev’s body betrayed him when he needed it most. After struggling through physical issues against Ben Shelton just days earlier, the German star found himself battling the same demons in his Cincinnati Open semifinal against Carlos Alcaraz.
What happened next showed why tennis, at its core, remains a sport built on respect and humanity.
What Physical Issues Plagued Alexander Zverev During His Cincinnati Matches?
Zverev’s troubles began during his quarterfinal victory over Shelton, where he took a medical timeout in the second set due to dizziness and breathing problems. The German’s distress was visible as he struggled with the physical demands of the match. He admitted after that match, “I’m not feeling too great right now. I have a day to get fresh and hopefully feel 100 per cent again.”
Unfortunately, that recovery day wasn’t enough. The physical issues returned with a vengeance during his semifinal against Alcaraz. Zverev struggled visibly in Cincinnati’s heat and humidity, his movement labored and his usual aggressive style compromised.
Despite taking another medical timeout, his performance remained severely hampered as Alcaraz controlled the match, winning 6-4, 6-3.
After the match ended, Alcaraz wrote a touching message on the courtside camera that perfectly captured the sportsmanship that makes tennis special: “Happy for the final but feeling bad for Sascha =(. Wish you all the best.”
Carlos Alcaraz signs the camera for an injured Zverev after beating him in Cincinnati:
“Happy for the final but feeling bad for Sascha ☹️. Wish you all the best.” pic.twitter.com/LnIiAWWMm3
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) August 17, 2025
Speaking about the difficult situation after the match, Alcaraz explained the mental challenge of competing against a compromised opponent: “It’s never easy playing against someone that you know is not feeling 100 per cent. It’s even tougher when it comes from Sascha, such a great player, such a great person off the court. We have a really good relationship.”
The Spaniard revealed how Zverev’s condition affected his own focus: “We started the match really good, playing good rallies, a good level of tennis. But then all of a sudden he started to feel bad. And then I was thinking about how he’s feeling, besides focusing on myself and playing good tennis. It was a really difficult situation for me, and I just wish him all the best.”
With this victory, Alcaraz leveled their head-to-head record at 6-6, setting up what promises to be an intriguing rivalry going forward.
What Makes Carlos Alcaraz’s 2025 Season So Remarkable?
Alcaraz’s path to the Cincinnati final represents just the latest chapter in what has been an outstanding 2025 campaign. His season began with triumph at the Rotterdam Open in February, marking his first title of the year and setting the tone for what was to come.
The clay court season proved particularly fruitful for the young Spaniard. He captured titles at both the Monte Carlo Masters and the Italian Open in Rome, building momentum heading into the sport’s biggest clay court stage. His biggest achievement came at the French Open, where he delivered one of the most memorable comebacks in recent Grand Slam history, defeating Jannik Sinner in an epic five-set final after being two sets down.
The grass court season continued his winning ways. Alcaraz claimed his second Queen’s Club title by defeating Jiri Lehecka, adding another trophy to his growing collection. With five titles in 2025 — Rotterdam, Monte-Carlo, Rome, French Open, and Queen’s — he carried incredible momentum into Wimbledon.
However, the Championships provided a rare setback. Despite reaching the final, Alcaraz lost to Sinner in four sets, ending both his 24-match winning streak (the longest of his career) and his perfect 5-0 record in major finals.
Now in his seventh consecutive tour-level final, Alcaraz is set to face defending champion Sinner once again. While Sinner defeated him in their most recent Wimbledon encounter, Alcaraz leads their overall head-to-head 8-5. This Cincinnati final will mark their fourth consecutive meeting in a tournament final this year, cementing one of tennis’s most compelling rivalries.
I gained a lot of respect for this young man as he showed empathy and respect while Sasha struggled through the match. Kindness is wonderful and I admire Carlos’ behavior through this. Good luck tomorrow.