The Cincinnati Open’s third round was thrown into chaos Tuesday night as torrential rain and lightning battered the Lindner Family Tennis Center, forcing a complete shutdown of play and reshuffling the schedule for high-profile matchups.
Rainy Disruption Rocks the Night
What began as a fiercely contested night session quickly turned chaotic. World No. 3 Alexander Zverev was just one game away from victory at 6‑4, 5‑4 against Brandon Nakashima when lightning halted the match at around 9:03 p.m. The match, along with several others, could not resume despite earlier delays.ATP TourPunjab News Express
On the women’s side, No. 4 seed and defending finalist Jessica Pegula was battling back after dropping the first set 7‑6 (5) to Magda Linette, but the second set was cut short as rain and storms rendered the courts unplayable.Women’s Tennis AssociationPunjab News Express Similarly, the third-round match between Clara Tauson and Veronika Kudermetova, plus two doubles matches, were postponed to Wednesday morning.Women’s Tennis Association
New Day, New Lineup
Organizers released a revised order of play for Wednesday. Pegula and Linette will resume their showdown as the second match on P&G Center Court, following the Holger Rune vs Frances Tiafoe men’s match. Play will begin no earlier than noon local time, with Tauson vs Kudermetova scheduled on Court 3 at the same time.Women’s Tennis Association
Alcaraz Hits Milestone Despite the Mayhem
Carlos Alcaraz, meanwhile, navigated the sweltering conditions earlier in the day to notch his 50th win of 2025, advancing to the fourth round before the storm uprooted evening play.The Times of India
What This Means for the Tournament
- Zverev now must finish his match on Wednesday and could be pushed into a fourth-round clash on the same day—a test of both his endurance and adaptability.ATP TourPFSN
- Pegula faces an unwelcome delay in her attempt to defend her title, requiring mental preparation for a resumed battle mid‑week.
- Fans and broadcasters are adjusting yet again, navigating weather-caused scheduling whiplash while anticipating marquee matchups in action.
Further Reading:
- Match postponements recap: “Rain washes out Tuesday night in Cincinnati” – WTA NewsWomen’s Tennis Association
- Day schedule update: SSBCrack News – “Thunderstorms Force Postponement of Matches at Cincinnati Open”SSBCrack News
- Alcaraz’s milestone discussed: Times of India – “Carlos Alcaraz picks 50th win of the year before adverse weather disrupts schedule”
