Tommy Paul saved a match point to reach his 50th quarterfinal in Cincinnati.

Richard PagliaroAugust 19, 20262 minute read

By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, August 19, 2026
Photo credit: bit Panda Hamburg Open Facebook

Facing a dire deficit and dangerous Alexander Zverev didn’t fracture Tommy Paul’s self belief.

Responding with a flashy forward attack, Paul saved match point to spark a Cincinnati comeback.

A bold Paul saved a match point at 5-6 in the tiebreaker fighting off the top-seeded Zverev 4-6, 7-6(6), 6-4 to battle into the Cincinnati Open quarterfinals today.

World No. 3 Zverev, who had reached four consecutive Cincinnati quarterfinals, dropped to 47-12 on the season and still leads the ATP in most match wins in 2026.

Saving match point with a deep drive to Zverev’s two-hander sparked Paul to take the final three points of the tiebreaker and force a final set.

Though French Open champion Zverev broke at love to go up 4-2, Paul was not through. A Zverev double fault but the German in a break-point bind and Paul pounded a drive to break back in the seventh game.

At times, Zverev gained traction attacking Paul’s forehand. The American was striking his forehand with conviction and creating some exceptional volleys in the front court as he won the final four games to close a spirited battle, interrupted by a couple of rain delays, in two hours, 51 minutes.

The 29-year-old Paul defeated Zverev for the third time in four meetings and relied on his all-court acumen to spark the comeback. Paul won 12 of 15 trips to net and hit 34 winners, 11 more than the former Olympic gold-medal champion.

It is Paul’s fourth career win over a Top-3 ranked player and propels him into his 50th Tour-level quarterfinal. Paul is to become the first American man to post a Top 3 win in Cincinnati since John Isner defeated No. 1 Novak Djokovic in 2013 quarterfinals.

Paul’s reward for toppling the Roland Garros champion is a quarterfinal clash vs. French Open finalist Flavio Cobolli.

Earlier, Cobolli stormed back from a set down to defeat 19-year-old Spaniard Rafael Jodar, 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-3 and book his quarterfinal spot.