The 2025 Cincinnati Masters has delivered shock after shock in its early rounds. Top seeds who arrived with high expectations have watched their campaigns crumble stunningly, creating one of the most unpredictable starts to a Masters 1000 event in recent memory. The casualties include former world No. 1 players and rising stars who seemed destined for deep runs.
How Did Lorenzo Musetti’s Struggles Continue in Cincinnati?
Eighth seed Lorenzo Musetti’s disappointing campaign reached another low point with a 5-7, 6-4, 7-6(4) defeat to Benjamin Bonzi. The Italian’s first match in Cincinnati this year exposed the same vulnerabilities that plagued him at the Citi DC Open, where he exited in the second round, and the Canadian Open, where he fell in the third round.
Bonzi d. Musetti 5-7 6-4 7-6 in Cincinnati
Benjamin gets his 3rd top 10 win
A match between two guys who’ve been out of form
Lorenzo has now lost 5 of his last 6 matches…having a tough time getting going since the injury at Roland Garros
Bonzi was so solid in the tiebreak pic.twitter.com/D2pqLcJlfj
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) August 9, 2025
Musetti has now dropped five of his last six matches, a slide that began with his injury at Roland Garros. The struggle continues despite flashes of his potential throughout the season.
Why Couldn’t Casper Ruud Hold His Early Lead Against Rinderknech?
Eleventh seed Casper Ruud appeared in control after claiming the opening set 7-6(5) against Arthur Rinderknech. However, the Norwegian completely collapsed, losing the following two sets 4-6, 2-6 to crash out of the tournament. The defeat stings particularly after Ruud’s solid fourth-round showing in Toronto.
What a start for @arthurrinder
The Frenchman is headed to round three after a 6-7, 6-4, 6-2 victory over Ruud. pic.twitter.com/XZHHHG9NJP
— Cincinnati Open (@CincyTennis) August 9, 2025
The loss becomes even more shocking when considering Ruud’s dominant 4-0 head-to-head record over Rinderknech entering the match. That historical advantage meant nothing once the Frenchman found his rhythm.
What Went Wrong for Alex de Minaur Despite His Recent Success?
Sixth seed Alex de Minaur arrived in Cincinnati riding high after capturing the Mubadala Citi DC Open title and reaching the quarterfinals in Toronto. That momentum evaporated quickly as America’s Reilly Opelka stunned the Australian 7-6(6), 6-4 in their second-round clash.
R3 secured
Reilly Opelka gets past de Minaur 7-6(6) 6-4.@CincyTennis | #CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/khrZKC4q3L
— ATP Tour (@atptour) August 10, 2025
De Minaur had owned this matchup historically, holding a commanding 5-0 head-to-head record against Opelka. But their sixth meeting belonged entirely to the American, who served with power and precision when it mattered most.
How Did Multiple Italian Seeds Fall on the Same Day?
World No. 22 Flavio Cobolli joined his countryman Musetti in early elimination, falling to qualifier Terence Atmane 6-4, 3-6, 7-6. The defeat continues Cobolli’s inconsistent summer, following a third-round loss in Washington and a fourth-round finish in Toronto.
Meanwhile, 29th seed Luciano Darderi couldn’t complete his comeback from withdrawing from the Canadian Open. The Italian retired mid-match against Francisco Comesana while trailing 6-4, 3-1, sending the Argentine into the third round at the Lindner Family Tennis Center.
What Happened to Former World No. 1 Daniil Medvedev?
Twelfth seed Daniil Medvedev looked strong after dominating the first-set tiebreak 7-6(0) against World No. 85 Adam Walton. Then the scorching Ohio heat and his opponent’s relentless pressure took over. The Russian collapsed in the following two sets, falling 6-4, 6-1 in a stunning reversal.
Biggest career win
Adam Walton takes the big scalp of the 13th seed and former world number one Daniil Medvedev 6-7(0), 6-4, 6-1 to move into the third round of the Cincinnati Open.
Coming in was 0-11 W/L and 0-24 sets vs Top 50.
Next: Jiri Lehecka (22) pic.twitter.com/SgCFA8uo6D
— The First Serve (@TheFirstServeAU) August 10, 2025
For Walton, the victory represents his most significant career breakthrough after entering the match with a 0-11 record and 0-24 sets against Top 50 opponents. Medvedev had shown improvement during the North American swing, reaching the quarterfinals in Washington DC and the third round in Toronto.
Which Other Seeds Couldn’t Navigate the Early Rounds?
Twenty-fourth seed Denis Shapovalov entered Cincinnati with confidence after capturing the Mifel Tennis Open title. However, that momentum stalled against Luca Nardi, who defeated the Canadian 7-6(5), 6-3, 6-4 in the second round. The loss extends Shapovalov’s struggles since his title run, including a second-round exit at the Canadian Open.
Nineteenth seed Tomás Macháč suffered a swift 6-3, 6-3 defeat to France’s Adrian Mannarino, continuing his string of early exits during the US Open build-up. The Czech also fell in the second round of the Canadian Open.
British star Cameron Norrie, seeded 32nd, couldn’t solve Spanish veteran Roberto Bautista Agut, falling 6-4, 6-3. The defeat is surprising given Norrie’s 4-0 head-to-head advantage over Bautista Agut entering the match. Norrie had lost the opening set and never recovered his rhythm.
Seventeenth seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina retired mid-match against Brazil’s Joao Fonseca, sending the young Brazilian through to the third round. The Spaniard had won the first set 7-6(4) but trailed 5-4 in the second when physical issues forced his withdrawal.
Such a shame
Davidovich Fokina is forced to retire, sending Joao Fonseca through 6-7 5-4 RET.#CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/kt6rXtdLnT
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) August 9, 2025
This marked Davidovich Fokina’s second consecutive retirement, following his withdrawal from a fourth-round match against Andrey Rublev in Toronto due to physical discomfort. The setbacks come after his impressive run to the final in Washington.
Finally, 26th seed Tallon Griekspoor fell 6-4, 7-6(3) to World No. 72 Hamad Medjedovic, another early exit that follows his second-round departure from the Canadian Open. The Dutchman’s US Open preparation continues to face obstacles.
