Carlos Alcaraz Defeats Andrey Rublev to Reach Cincinnati Open Semi-Finals

World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz survived a tough battle against Andrey Rublev to book his place in the semi-finals of the Cincinnati Open 2025.

Alcaraz Overcomes Rublev in Three-Set Thriller

Carlos Alcaraz showed grit and resilience as he defeated Andrey Rublev 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 in a dramatic quarter-final clash at the Cincinnati Open 2025. Despite hitting 15 unforced errors and three double faults in the deciding set, the Spaniard held his nerve to reach his 12th ATP Masters 1000 semi-final.

The 22-year-old extended his winning streak at Masters 1000 events to 15 matches, following titles earlier this year in Monte Carlo and Rome.

> “I just accepted the moment and loved the battle,” Alcaraz said after the win. “Even in extreme conditions, playing in front of this energy makes me happy.”

Head-to-Head Advantage and Race to Turin Lead

The victory means Alcaraz now leads Rublev 4-1 in their ATP Head2Head series, with back-to-back wins after his Wimbledon triumph last month. With this result, he also matches Carlos Moya for the third-most Masters 1000 semi-final appearances by a Spanish player.

Alcaraz continues to lead the PIF ATP Live Race to Turin by 1,540 points ahead of Jannik Sinner. Both stars have already qualified for the Nitto ATP Finals 2025, where Sinner is defending champion.

Next Challenge: Shelton or Zverev

Alcaraz will now face either Toronto champion Ben Shelton or World No. 3 Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals. The Spaniard is aiming to go one step further than last year in Cincinnati, when he fell just short in the final against Novak Djokovic.

Meanwhile, Rublev, who reached the Cincinnati Open final in 2021, slips to World No. 15 in the live rankings despite another strong run to the quarter-finals.

Sinner Rivalry Looms Again

If both Alcaraz and top seed Jannik Sinner progress, fans could witness a fourth consecutive tournament final between the two rivals. Unlike Alcaraz, Sinner has cruised through Cincinnati 2025 without dropping a set and faces French qualifier Terence Atmane in his semi-final.