The Cincinnati Open has spent its opening days battling the elements as rain interrupted qualifying and extreme heat has defined the main draw. Conditions in Ohio have been punishing, with several players forced to cope with temperatures above 30 degrees Celcius and heavy humidity on Sunday, 16th August.

Novak Djokovic was one of the players visibly affected, as he went out in the second round against Thiago Agusting Tirante and was seen vomiting into his towel during the match. The broader field has also had to manage the strain of the weather, which has made the tournament especially demanding.

After beating Marco Trungelliti in a tight straight-sets match, Medvedev described just how severe the conditions felt. “I’m happy to have avoided a third set, it’s very hot. I even think, according to the forecasts, that it’s the hottest day. I saw that he (Trungelliti) was also struggling, that’s maybe why he couldn’t close out the second set. It’s hard for everyone,” said Medvedev.

He added: “From the start of the match, when the second set arrives, everyone is out of breath, sweating, the conditions are tough. I’m happy to have been able to win in two sets. Tomorrow is a rest day, I will recover.”

The weather has also brought renewed focus on Jannik Sinner’s decision to skip the event. Even without the knee issue he is dealing with, the choice looks increasingly measured given his history in heat and humidity. Sinner has withdrawn from both the Canadian Open and the Cincinnati Open, meaning he will arrive at the US Open without a hardcourt warm-up in North America.

That is notable because he has previously struggled in similar conditions, including Shanghai against Tallon Griekspoor, Melbourne against Eliot Spizzirri, and Roland Garros against Juan Manuel Cerundolo. On that evidence, skipping Cincinnati appears to be a sensible call before the US Open.

Ben Shelton’s run in Cincinnati ended before it ever found momentum, as the American fell in straight sets to Jaime Faria in the second round. The defeat came only days after Shelton had wrapped up the Canadian Open title in Montreal for the second year in a row, a result that had underlined just how sharp his form had been entering the North American hardcourt swing.

That Montreal victory was built on a clean, dominant week. Shelton beat Brandon Nakashima, Learner Tien, Jakub Mensik, and Joao Fonseca on his way to the Masters crown, and he did so without dropping a set. Against that backdrop, his quick exit in Cincinnati stood out as one of the more unexpected results of the week.

It also renewed attention on a long-running issue around ATP Tour scheduling. The back-to-back placement of the Canadian Open and the Cincinnati Open continues to place players in an awkward position, particularly after deep runs the previous week. Shelton’s loss marked the fourth time in five years that the reigning Canadian Open champion has gone out in the opening match at Cincinnati.

The pattern has been clear across recent seasons: Pablo Carreno Busta exited in the opening round in 2022, Jannik Sinner did the same in 2023, Alexei Popyrin followed in 2024, and Shelton reached the quarter-finals in 2025 before his 2026 first-round disappointment. The sequence has only strengthened the argument that the schedule leaves little room for recovery between two demanding Masters events.

With the calendar becoming increasingly crowded, and with two-week Masters formats adding to the strain, strong performances in both tournaments have become even harder to sustain. Rafael Nadal remains the last player to win both events, doing so in 2013. Before that, only Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick, Pat Rafter, Eddie Dibbs, and Cliff Richey achieved the same feat.

For that reason, the call is simple: if the ATP Tour wants to give top players a fair chance to compete in both tournaments, it needs to place a week between them. Without that break, the North American hardcourt swing risks producing more withdrawals, more frustration, and more results like Shelton’s in Cincinnati.

Carlos Alcaraz’s comeback schedule is still unsettled, even with his name on the US Open entry list.

The world No. 3 is racing the clock to recover from the wrist injury he picked up at the Barcelona Open, and his fitness remains the central issue ahead of the final Grand Slam of the season. He was supposed to appear at the Cincinnati Open before heading to New York, but he was not ready in time for that event.

Although he has been training at a high intensity in the build-up to Flushing Meadows, there is still a possibility that he will miss the US Open because he has not yet reached full fitness.

According to MARCA, Alcaraz “will reappear at the Laver Cup if he doesn’t play at the US Open”, though he has not withdrawn from the Grand Slam. That tournament is scheduled for September 25-27, which would extend his absence from competition by around three more weeks.

He is already confirmed to miss Spain’s Davis Cup tie against Chile, with the squad already chosen, making the Laver Cup the next possible event on his calendar. Alcaraz has been a regular presence at the competition for Team Europe, having played in the last two editions before 2026.

His record at the event includes a Team Europe title in 2024, when he beat Ben Shelton and Taylor Fritz in singles. Team World turned the tables in 2025 in San Francisco, with Fritz gaining revenge by defeating the Spaniard in straight sets.

This year’s Laver Cup will be staged in London at the O2 Arena, and Alcaraz has made clear how much he values the event. Speaking last year, he said: “I will try to bring positive energy to the team. I want to help Team Europe defend the Laver Cup.

“I love that tournament, and being teammates with players who are usually rivals is something very special. I will give my best, and I’m very excited about the event.”

Team Europe will also include Rafael Jodar, Jakub Mensik, Casper Ruud, Alexander Zverev, and Flavio Cobolli, with Yannick Noah and Tim Henman leading the side. Team World, coached by Andre Agassi and Pat Rafter, will feature Shelton, Fritz, Alex de Minaur, Alexander Bublik, Learner Tien, and Tommy Paul.