Cincinnati Masters: Zverev moves forward as Williams sisters exit the tournament.

In a highly anticipated return to the doubles court, tennis legends Serena and Venus Williams faced a challenging start at the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Masters on August 17, 2026. The sisters, who have collectively secured 14 Grand Slam titles and three Olympic gold medals, played together for the first time since the 2022 U.S. Open. However, their comeback was met with disappointment as they were defeated by American Payton Stearns and Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk, with a final score of 6-2, 1-6, 10-8.

Reflecting on the match, Serena Williams expressed a sense of joy despite the loss, stating, "It was fun and special. We kicked off a little rust." She emphasized that her primary goal was not to win the tournament but to enjoy the experience. "I didn't come here to win this tournament. It's about having fun and I did want to do the best I could," she added.

On the men's side, top seed Alexander Zverev continued his strong performance, advancing to the fourth round after defeating Terrance Atmane in straight sets, 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (8/6). The reigning French Open champion showcased his skills with a powerful backhand that sealed the match. Zverev noted the challenge posed by Atmane, stating, "He was playing incredibly aggressively, hitting forehands all over the court. He made it difficult for you to play aggressive yourself."

Meanwhile, the tournament saw the withdrawal of Jannik Sinner due to a knee injury, raising concerns as the U.S. Open approaches. In other matches, 17th-seeded Alexandra Eala faced a tough battle against ninth seed Amanda Anisimova, ultimately losing 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 after a grueling opening set that featured a lengthy fifth game.

Australian fifth seed Alex de Minaur also had to navigate through multiple rain delays during his match against Arthur Fery, eventually winning 7-5, 7-6 (7/3). De Minaur expressed relief at his victory, stating, "You never want to go into a rain delay leading 5-1. It was a tough day with all the interruptions. I can't remember a match that started and stopped so many times. I'm happy with how I found a way." He is set to face France's Arthur Fils in the next round.

In other notable results, Spanish 12th seed Rafael Jodar triumphed over Alejandro Tabilo with a decisive 6-2, 6-1 scoreline, while two-time Grand Slam champion Elena Rybakina overcame Magdalena Frech 6-4, 7-6 (7/2) despite facing rain delays. The tournament continues to unfold with exciting matches as players vie for a coveted title ahead of the U.S. Open.