Carlos Alcaraz admitted that his first outing at the 2025 Cincinnati Open was far from smooth sailing. The World No. 2 needed three grueling sets to outlast Bosnia’s Damir Džumhur, winning 6-1, 2-6, 6-3 in what he perfectly described as a “rollercoaster” of emotions and momentum shifts.
The 22-year-old Spaniard walked off the court relieved to survive such a tricky second-round battle. Now he’s looking forward to his rest day, hoping to reset mentally before facing his next challenge in Cincinnati.
Why Was Carlos Alcaraz’s First Match in Cincinnati Such a Rollercoaster?
This marked Alcaraz’s fifth appearance at the Cincinnati Masters. After earning a bye into the second round, he came out firing on all cylinders in the opening set. The Spaniard broke early and controlled every rally, wrapping up the first set 6-1 in under 30 minutes with clinical precision.
Then everything changed. In the second set, Alcaraz’s unforced errors piled up while Džumhur found his rhythm. The Bosnian played innovative, aggressive tennis that caught Alcaraz off guard, leveling the match at one set apiece. That dramatic turnaround forced Alcaraz to dig deep in the decider.
Alcaraz doblega a un correoso Dzumhur en su estreno en Cincinnati. (6-1/2-6/6-3)#LaPistaDelTenis @carlosalcaraz pic.twitter.com/cCBdVD7Nhz
— Tenis en Movistar Plus+ (@MovistarTenis) August 10, 2025
Fortunately for Alcaraz, he found his composure when it mattered most. The five-time Grand Slam champion regrouped in the final set, breaking early and holding his nerve to close the match in 1 hour, 41 minutes.
“It was just a rollercoaster,” Alcaraz said in his post-match interview. “Lots of good feelings, bad feelings, back to the good ones. All I can say is I am happy to get the win at the end and just have another chance to be better. I will try tomorrow to have my confidence back because today it was a little bit tricky.”
He also praised his opponent’s tactical approach. “Damir plays really smart tennis, which I have to be focused and ready for that. I have a rest day tomorrow, to give myself the confidence back and hopefully be better in the next round.”
The 2023 champion advances to the third round, where he’ll face Hamad Medjedovic. This will mark their first meeting on the ATP Tour. The winner will take on either 16th seed Jakub Menšík or lucky loser Luca Nardi in the Round of 16.
Why Does Alcaraz Say Time With Loved Ones Is Key to Recharging?
Following his second-round victory in Cincinnati, Alcaraz opened up to Tennis Channel’s Prakash Amritraj about the importance of stepping away from tennis. Despite his evident passion for the sport, the grueling tour schedule makes those breaks with family and friends essential.
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“I love having time for me if I have to be honest. I always say that’s what you are working for as well, you know? Okay, I love playing tennis and I love when I step on the court, but sometimes it’s too many days in a row, too many weeks in a row,” Alcaraz said.
Those moments away from competition aren’t just nice to have; they’re necessary fuel for what comes next. “So I just love to take my time off just with my family, with my friends, just at home, doing nothing at all. For me it’s needful to come back stronger and hungry, to catch the racket and hit some balls.”
