Carlos Alcaraz faces Andrey Rublev in a what promises to be an electric quarterfinal match this afternoon at the Cincinnati Open.
Rublev, the world No. 11, comes in hungry and in strong form, having won six of his last seven matches. He outlasted Alexei Popyrin in a grueling 3.5-hour third-round battle, then followed with a composed, straight-sets win over Francisco Comesana in just over an hour.
But today he faces Alcaraz, the world No. 2 and one of the sport’s most dominant forces, who has won 27 of his last 28 matches. The lone blemish? A loss to Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon final.
Alcaraz was tested early in Cincinnati, needing three sets to get past Damir Dzumhur in his opener.
Hamad Medjedovic also pushed this year’s French Open champion before falling in straight sets, while Luca Nardi challenged him in the second set of their third-round clash before Alcaraz closed it out 6–4.
He’s been largely dominant, but pockets of mid-match drama mean he’ll need a sharper performance against Rublev.
The winner will face either Ben Shelton or Alexander Zverev in the semifinals. So the biggest fireworks in Cincinnati may be yet to come.
Rublev–Alcaraz Head-to-Head
Alcaraz leads their head-to-head 3–1, having won their most recent matchup at Wimbledon in four sets. He holds the edge in high-stakes encounters, showcasing his ability to elevate during critical moments.
Prediction
Alcaraz in three sets. Rublev’s recent form and resurgence make him a tough opponent. He may take a set, but Alcaraz’s unmatched consistency, all-court variety, and elite-level composure give him the edge to control the final set, if not the entire match, with precision.
How to Watch Andrey Rublev vs. Carlos Alcaraz
The Andrey Rublev–Carlos Alcaraz match is expected to start at around 3:00 PM Eastern on Center Court at the Lindner Family Tennis Center, after Sabalenka-Rybakina.
The match will air live on the Tennis Channel.
The Tennis Channel has a live stream simulcast of its TV coverage here, along with a dedicated stream for the Rublev–Alcaraz match here.
A standalone Tennis Channel streaming subscription is available for $9.99/month or $109.99/year.
Rublev vs. Alcaraz
Date: Friday, August 15, 2025
Expected Start Time: 3:00 PM Eastern (after Sabalenka-Rybakina)
Venue: Lindner Family Tennis Center, Mason, Ohio
Court: Center Court
TV: Tennis Channel
Streaming: Tennis Channel app and website
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