Frances Tiafoe returns to the Midwest to face Roberto Carballes Baena in the Cincinnati Open second round this afternoon.
Tiafoe had a rough first half of 2025, with mainly early-round exits. But he’s stepped up his game in the second half, with a quarterfinals appearance at Roland Garros, losing to Lorenzo Musetti in four sets.
He was dominant in his Round of 16 match against Flavio Cobolli at the DC Open, dispatching him in straight sets, 6-1, 6-4. And his quarterfinal match against Ben Shelton was a grueling battle that — despite ending in two sets — really could have gone either way. Shelton, as we recently saw in Toronto, now looks indomitable.
Tiafoe faces an easier opponent tonight, by comparison, but one that should not be easily dismissed.
Carballes Baena, a clay court specialist, has shown better form on hard courts as of late, testing Taylor Fritz in the Canadian Open Round of 64 in a close, two-set match, 5-7, 6-7(1). The Spaniard could make this match competitive by exploiting long rallies.
Tiafoe–Carballes Baena Head-to-Head
This will be the first career meeting between Tiafoe and Carballes Baena.
Prediction
Tiafoe in two tight sets. His power and aggressive game give him a clear edge, especially on Cincinnati’s faster hard courts. But Carballes Baena will steal some games and make this competitive.
How to Watch Frances Tiafoe vs Roberto Carballes Baena
The Frances Tiafoe–Roberto Carballes Baena match is expected to start at around 7:20 PM Eastern on Grandstand Court at the Lindner Family Tennis Center.
The match may air live on the Tennis Channel or its streaming-only T2 Channel, available for free on Amazon Prime Video here.
The Tennis Channel has a live stream simulcast of its TV coverage here, along with a dedicated feed for the Tiafoe-Carballes Baena match here.
Should none of these viewing options work for you, the Tennis Channel has a standalone streaming subscription available for $9.99/month or $109.99/year.
Tiafoe vs. Carballes Baena
Date: Saturday, August 9, 2025
Expected Start Time: 7:20 PM Eastern
Venue: Lindner Family Tennis Center, Mason, Ohio
Court: Grandstand Court
TV: Tennis Channel
Streaming: Tennis Channel app and website
Globely News covers the game changers transforming the worlds of business, sports, politics, and technology. From AI and electric vehicles to the rise of China and the NFL's next stars, we've got you covered.