Alcaraz avenges loss to Paul, advances to Cincinnati Open quarterfinals

Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek, the top-ranked players in tennis, got past adverse weather conditions and challenging opponents on Thursday to reach the Western & Southern Open quarterfinals.

Alcaraz overcame two rain delays totalling 2 hours, 35 minutes and 14th-seeded American Tommy Paul, who beat him last Friday in Toronto, for a 7-6 (6), 6-7 (0), 6-3 win in a match that lasted 3 hours, 9 minutes.

Alcaraz recovered after losing three match points during the 12th game of the second set, which lasted 24 points and more than 15 minutes. Blanked in the tiebreaker, he came right back to break Paul's serve in the first game of the final set.

"The main difference is he won and I lost," Paul said, distinguishing between Thursday and his victory last week. "It was a great match. Conditions were less than ideal, but he handled it like pro. He kept a great attitude."

Still recovering from this point