The North American summer has turned into a true test of endurance for tennis stars, with both ATP and WTA warriors feeling the scorch. In Ohio, the Cincinnati Open has become a battleground against not just opponents, but the unrelenting heat. On Sunday, Daniil Medvedev, drained and distant, slumped in his courtside chair after a grueling loss to Adam Walton, the sweltering air sapping his strength over two and a half punishing hours. Aryna Sabalenka, after a fierce clash with Emma Raducanu yesterday, quipped with raw humor, “This is how it feels to be old?” And now, Carlos Alcaraz makes an honest admission, as the brutal Cincinnati challenge continues to plague players’ bodies and minds.
The No. 2 in the PIF ATP Rankings, Carlos Alcaraz, marched past Hamad Medjedovic 6-4, 6-4 in the furnace-like conditions of the ATP Masters 1000 in Ohio. With unshakable composure, he notched his tour-leading 50th win of 2025 and extended his Masters 1000 streak to 13 straight victories, proving once again that heat alone cannot melt his resolve.
Yet, the triumph came under the shadow of mounting heat concerns gripping the tournament. In the WTA draw, Coco Gauff advanced via walkover after Dayana Yastremska withdrew, citing illness from the oppressive weather. Now in the R16, Alcaraz has spoken openly about how he fought through the searing conditions, bending the match to his will.
Speaking on the Tennis Channel post-match show, Carlos Alcaraz faced Prakash Amritraj’s question on how he braved the Ohio heat. With a calm yet sharp delivery, he revealed the mental chess behind his survival. “Well, sometimes we are just focused on ourselves. We’re just thinking that we’re struggling a lot with the heat, with the sun, with just feeling bad. And sometimes we forgot about the opponent. The opponent is struggling as well, or even much, much more than you are,” he said, his words carrying the weight of experience.
250714 — LONDON, July 14, 2025 — Carlos Alcaraz reacts during the men s singles final between Carlos Alcaraz of Spain and Jannik Sinner of Italy at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Britain, July 13, 2025. SPBRITAIN-LONDON-TENNIS-WIMBLEDON-MEN S SINGLES-FINAL LixYing PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxCHN
Alcaraz then drew strength from his roots. “So I’m trying to think about the opponent as well. And trying to make it a battle really tough. I’m from Murcia, is really hot as well, you know, in summer. So I’m just telling myself that, okay, you have to get used to it, or you’re used to it and trying not to, or not let the sun affect my game or affect me,” he explained, painting a picture of resilience forged in the Spanish heat.
His strategy was as much about adaptation as it was about attack. “I’m just trying to keep it going, to try to make the points a little bit shorter. If I can or if I see, you know, the opponent struggling a lot, just making even longer. So it just depends on whether I’m trying not to think about, you know, the sun and just play my game,” he concluded, a warrior’s mindset burning brighter than the Ohio sun.
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