Saturday Preview: Djokovic, Zverev & Pegula lead loaded slate

By Grant Thompson

The Cincinnati Open action heats up with a star-studded Saturday, featuring 31 matches across the men’s and women’s draws.

Three-time champion Novak Djokovic and top seed Alexander Zverev headline the men’s action while American favorites Jessica Pegula and Amanda Anisimova are among the highest women’s seeds on the schedule.

Here are five things to watch Saturday:

Djokovic, Zverev among Grand Slams champions in action

Record 24-time major champion Novak Djokovic returns to Cincinnati for the 16th time and first since his epic 2023 final victory over Carlos Alcaraz. The third seed faces Argentine Thiago Agustin Tirante, who last week upset Taylor Fritz in Montreal. Tirante, enjoying his career-best season — and fresh off a two-hour, 56-minute, first-round win Thursday — looks forward to his clash with the third seed: “It’s going to be one of the days that I will remember for all of my life,” he said.

Top seed Zverev lifted a heavy weight off his shoulders at Roland Garros, securing his maiden major title after falling short in his first three final appearances. The 2021 champion goes against tricky British lefty Cameron Norrie, who the German has defeated in all seven of their meetings.

While Zverev entered the Slam record books in Paris, it was Linda Noskova’s turn at Wimbledon. The 21-year-old Czech went on a fairytale run at the All England Club, downing four Top 25 players en route to the title. Beginning her fourth consecutive Cincy appearance, Noskova starts against Katie Boulter, who married ATP star Alex de Minaur last month. Jelena Ostapenko, 2017 Roland Garros champion, meets Magdalena Frech on the intimate Court 4.

Eala enjoying spotlight, now making Cincinnati debut

“I’m just trying to take it all in,” said fast-rising Filipino star Alexandra Eala when asked about her growing global profile. The 21-year-old has become one of the sport’s most followed players, with crowds turning out in increasing numbers to watch her breakthrough season.

That attention was impossible to miss during her title run this month in Washington, D.C., where Eala captured her first WTA-level trophy, defeating Pegula in a three-set final. Seeded 17th in her Cincinnati debut, Eala opens the action on Tony Trabert Stadium 3 against Elena-Gabriela Ruse.

American stars in Queen City

There is no shortage of home talent across the grounds Saturday, with seven Americans competing, including local favorites Peyton Stearns and Caty McNally. Stearns kickstarts the evening session on P&G Center Court against 27th seed Clara Tauson while McNally and 18th seed Anna Kalinskaya are slated to play.

America’s top-ranked WTA player, No. 3 Pegula, seeks to go one step further than her 2024 runner-up finish and lift the Rookwood Cup for the first time. Pegula begins her campaign against Simona Waltert on Grandstand. Ninth seed Anisimova is chasing her first title of the season after winning two WTA 1000 trophies in 2025, in Doha and Beijing. The 24-year-old opens P&G Center Court day session action against Zeynep Sonmez.

Tommy Paul will look to avenge his four-set Wimbledon loss to Hubert Hurkacz from six weeks ago. Emma Navarro, seeded 25th, and qualifier Kayla Day complete the list of Americans competing Saturday.

Breakthrough stars, ready to shine

One of the most compelling storylines of each season is which players are making their breakthrough. The 12th seed Rafael Jodar is a prime example. At this time last August, Jodar was No. 540 in the world, a ranking that seems almost unimaginable for a player now knocking on the door of his Top 10 debut. In Cincinnati for the first time, Jodar will look to avenge this year’s Dallas loss to Denis Shapovalov on Grandstand.

Roland Garros finalists Flavio Cobolli and Maja Chwalinska are also on the order of play, as is Wimbledon fairytale semi-finalist Arthur Fery. Frenchman Terence Atmane returns to Cincinnati with plenty of positive memories. The lefty reached the semifinals here last year as a qualifier, the best run of his career. “Last year changed my life completely,” Atmane said. “Just to be back here, I feel so grateful and so happy.”

De Minaur, Bencic among other top seeds

Australian Alex de Minaur rounds out the Top 5 seeds in Cincinnati. The 27-year-old will look to add to his tally of 30 match wins this season when he plays Quentin Halys. Ninth seed Jiri Lehecka, a finalist in Miami this year, has an entertaining clash with former No. 6 Matteo Berrettini. Jakub Mensik, 20, faces Mattia Bellucci on Grandstand.

On the women’s side, 12th seed Belinda Bencic is among a long list of seeded players competing Saturday. The winner of the gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Bencic meets wild card and 2025 Roland Garros semifinalist Lois Boisson on Grandstand, not before 8:30 p.m. Diana Shnaider and Sorana Cîrstea, seeded 14th and 15th, respectively, are also on Saturday’s card.