Williams Sisters Fall in Cincinnati Return as Zverev Advances

Serena and Venus Williams lost their first doubles match together since the 2022 US Open on Monday at the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Masters, while men’s top seed Alexander Zverev moved into the fourth round with a hard-fought straight-sets victory.

The Williams sisters were beaten 6-2, 1-6, 10-8 by American Payton Stearns and Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk. Their reunion brought the pair back side-by-side after a lengthy break, with the sisters having won 14 Grand Slam titles and three Olympic gold medals together.

Zverev, the reigning French Open champion, defeated Terrance Atmane 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (8/6) for his ATP season-best 46th win. The German closed the match with a backhand down the line against Atmane, who had been a Cincinnati semi-finalist in 2025.

Williams reunion ends in match tie-break

The Williams sisters dropped the opening set 6-2 after each player lost serve once, with Stearns and Kostyuk winning six of the final seven games. Serena and Venus responded emphatically in the second set, taking it 6-1 to force the deciding 10-point match tie-break.

They rallied from 8-2 down in that tie-break, but the comeback ended on a Venus double fault as Stearns and Kostyuk sealed the 10-8 result. Serena described the occasion as fun and special, saying the pair had knocked off “a little rust.” She also said her aim was to enjoy the experience and do the best she could rather than to win the tournament.

Serena noted that playing in a full stadium on a Monday night was unusual for her, and said the reunion was not intended to become a weekly commitment with the US Open approaching. The Cincinnati appearance nevertheless marked a notable return for one of the sport’s most successful doubles partnerships.

In the men’s draw, Zverev was tested throughout by Atmane’s aggressive play. Zverev said the Frenchman was hitting forehands all over the court and made it difficult to play aggressively in return. Both sets required tie-breaks, with Zverev taking the first 7/4 and surviving the second 8/6 to progress.

Elsewhere, fifth seed Alex de Minaur beat Arthur Fery 7-5, 7-6 (7/3) through multiple rain interruptions. De Minaur led by a set and 5-1 after a 30-minute stoppage before Fery fought back, but the Australian won the tie-break despite 29 unforced errors. He will next play Arthur Fils, who defeated ninth seed Jiri Lehecka 6-1, 6-7 (7/9), 6-3.

Rafael Jodar defeated Alejandro Tabilo 6-2, 6-1 and will face Flavio Cobolli, while Thiago Tirante followed his second-round win over Novak Djokovic by beating Martin Landaluce 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/4). Joao Fonseca withdrew with an abdominal injury.

Women’s contenders come through rain-hit day

On the women’s side, Amanda Anisimova recovered from losing a 65-minute opening set to defeat 17th seed Alexandra Eala 4-6, 6-4, 6-2. Elena Rybakina overcame two one-hour rain delays to beat Magdalena Frech 6-4, 7-6 (7/2).

Defending champion Iga Swiatek beat Maria Sakkari 4-6, 6-1, 6-1, while Jessica Pegula, the 2024 finalist, defeated Emma Navarro 7-5, 6-2. The results left Cincinnati’s singles draws moving forward after a day shaped by close matches, rain interruptions and the Williams sisters’ brief but high-profile doubles return.