Cincinnati Open 2026 Saturday Preview: Djokovic Returns, Anisimova Faces Sonmez and Paul Battles Hurkacz
The 2026 Cincinnati Open shifts into another gear on Saturday, August 15, with former champion Novak Djokovic beginning his campaign, American stars Amanda Anisimova and Tommy Paul stepping onto P&G Stadium Court, and several intriguing second-round matchups highlighting a packed day in Mason, Ohio.
Saturday’s stadium schedule begins at 11 a.m. ET with Zeynep Sonmez vs. No. 9 seed Amanda Anisimova, followed by No. 3 Novak Djokovic vs. Thiago Agustin Tirante and then No. 18 Tommy Paul vs. Hubert Hurkacz.
For Djokovic, Cincinnati represents the beginning of an important stretch leading toward the 2026 US Open, which begins August 30. For Anisimova and Paul, Saturday offers an opportunity to build momentum on home soil, although neither has been handed a straightforward assignment.
Here are three matches to watch on Saturday at the Cincinnati Open.
Zeynep Sonmez vs. Amanda Anisimova
Head-to-head: First meeting
One of Saturday’s most intriguing WTA matches features Turkey’s Zeynep Sonmez against ninth-seeded American Amanda Anisimova.
Sonmez has already demonstrated her fighting qualities in Cincinnati. She recovered from a set down in her opening match to defeat Daria Kasatkina 2-6, 7-6(4), 6-3, earning the opportunity to face one of the most dangerous ball-strikers in the women’s game.
Anisimova presents an entirely different challenge.
When the American is striking the ball cleanly, few players can take time away from an opponent as effectively. Her ability to redirect pace off both wings – particularly with her backhand – makes the quick Cincinnati hard courts a natural environment for her aggressive baseline game.
The question for Sonmez will be whether she can prevent Anisimova from establishing that rhythm.
Sonmez showed against Kasatkina that she is capable of absorbing pressure, staying in difficult rallies and finding solutions when a match begins moving away from her. Against Anisimova, however, simply extending rallies may not be enough. She will need depth, variety and an ability to make the American hit additional balls from uncomfortable positions.
There is another interesting element to the matchup: Sonmez and Anisimova have never previously played at tour level, making Saturday’s encounter their first head-to-head meeting.
For Anisimova, the objective should be relatively clear – dictate early, attack second serves and avoid allowing Sonmez’s defensive skills to turn the match into a physical battle.
Key to the Match
Watch Anisimova’s return position and first-strike tennis. If she consistently gets on top of Sonmez’s second serve and controls the first two or three shots of rallies, the No. 9 seed should be able to dictate the terms.
Sonmez’s opportunity comes if she can extend exchanges and force Anisimova to generate winners from increasingly difficult positions.
Novak Djokovic vs. Thiago Agustin Tirante
Head-to-head: First meeting
Perhaps the biggest storyline of Saturday’s Cincinnati Open schedule is the return of Novak Djokovic.
The No. 3 seed faces Argentina’s Thiago Agustin Tirante in his first match since Wimbledon and his first Cincinnati appearance since winning the tournament in 2023. Djokovic is already a three-time Cincinnati champion and entered this year’s tournament riding a 10-match winning streak at the event.
That history immediately makes his return significant.
Cincinnati has traditionally been one of the most useful preparation tournaments for Djokovic ahead of New York because of the conditions. The combination of heat, lively hard courts and elite opposition provides an excellent test before the US Open.
At this stage of Djokovic’s career, however, Cincinnati is about more than collecting matches.
It is about finding his competitive rhythm without unnecessarily draining himself before the year’s final Grand Slam.
Tirante earned this opportunity by advancing through the opening round and now faces arguably the ultimate challenge in men’s tennis: trying to find a weakness in Djokovic’s return game and baseline defence.
This will be the first career meeting between Djokovic and Tirante.
Tirante possesses enough power to make the Serbian uncomfortable if he can consistently land his first serve and control points with his forehand. But against Djokovic, maintaining that level over an entire match is notoriously difficult.
Djokovic’s ability to neutralize big serves, change direction from defensive positions and turn neutral rallies into attacking opportunities could gradually force Tirante to take greater risks.
Djokovic’s Cincinnati Return and the US Open
Saturday will also provide an early indication of Djokovic’s condition heading toward New York.
The Serbian has not competed since Wimbledon, and the ATP’s Cincinnati draw preview emphasized that he could have little time to settle into the tournament.
That makes his opening performance especially interesting.
The scoreboard may ultimately matter less than Djokovic’s movement, timing on return and willingness to extend rallies. If those elements look sharp immediately, the three-time champion could quickly establish himself as one of the players to beat in Cincinnati.
Key to the Match
Tirante needs inexpensive service holds.
If Djokovic repeatedly gets into the Argentine’s service games, the pressure could become overwhelming. Tirante’s best opportunity is to serve aggressively, shorten points and use his forehand before Djokovic can establish his trademark control from the baseline.
For Djokovic, patience and return depth should be enough to gradually expose openings.
Tommy Paul vs. Hubert Hurkacz
Headliner: A Wimbledon rematch
The most evenly balanced of our three featured matches could be Tommy Paul vs. Hubert Hurkacz.
Paul enters as the No. 18 seed and will have the American crowd behind him, but Hurkacz arrives with both confidence and a recent reminder that he knows how to beat the American.
The Polish star defeated Paul at Wimbledon earlier this summer, recovering after dropping the opening set to win 4-6, 7-6, 7-5, 6-2.
Now the matchup moves from grass to hard courts.
That changes the tactical equation but doesn’t necessarily diminish Hurkacz’s biggest weapon.
His serve remains the foundation of his game, and Cincinnati’s conditions can reward players capable of earning quick points behind the first delivery. Hurkacz also enters Saturday having defeated Sho Shimabukuro in straight sets in Cincinnati on Friday.
Paul will therefore need to be extremely disciplined on return.
Rather than expecting numerous opportunities, the American may have to capitalize on only one or two vulnerable service games per set. His athleticism and movement can create problems once rallies develop, particularly if he can prevent Hurkacz from immediately controlling the court.
The American’s variety could also become important.
Paul is comfortable changing speeds, moving forward and turning defence into attack. Against a player who prefers controlling points behind his serve and first forehand, Paul’s ability to disrupt rhythm could become one of the defining tactical themes.
Can Paul Reverse the Wimbledon Result?
This matchup offers Paul an immediate opportunity to answer that Wimbledon defeat.
Hard courts should give him a better chance of getting into Hurkacz’s service games than grass did, but Paul’s return quality will have to be exceptional.
Hurkacz will try to make the match simple: land first serves, attack short returns and keep points short.
Paul needs the opposite.
If he can extend rallies, move Hurkacz laterally and turn the contest into a physical baseline match, the American’s chances should improve considerably.
Key to the Match
Watch the Hurkacz first-serve percentage.
If Hurkacz is consistently landing first serves, Paul could spend much of the afternoon trying to manufacture opportunities. If the American can regularly see second serves, however, the dynamic changes dramatically.
Why Saturday Matters at the 2026 Cincinnati Open
Saturday represents one of the first major statement days of this year’s tournament.
Djokovic begins his Cincinnati campaign with the US Open looming. Anisimova attempts to impose her powerful hard-court game against a confident Sonmez. Paul gets another crack at Hurkacz only weeks after their Wimbledon meeting.
And those are only three matches on a loaded schedule.
Elsewhere Saturday, Alexander Zverev faces Cameron Norrie, Jessica Pegula meets Simona Waltert, Belinda Bencic takes on Lois Boisson, Alex de Minaur faces Quentin Halys, and Alexandra Eala meets Elena-Gabriela Ruse.
But much of the attention will inevitably fall on Djokovic.
Three years after his memorable 2023 Cincinnati title run, the 24-time Grand Slam champion is back in Ohio and beginning another North American hard-court campaign with New York approaching.
Saturday provides the first answers.
Cincinnati Open Saturday, August 15 Featured Matches
P&G Stadium Court — starting at 11 a.m. ET
- Zeynep Sonmez (TUR) vs. [9] Amanda Anisimova (USA)
- [3] Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs. Thiago Agustin Tirante (ARG)
- [18] Tommy Paul (USA) vs. Hubert Hurkacz (POL)
The matches are scheduled consecutively on P&G Stadium Court, beginning with Sonmez-Anisimova at 11 a.m. ET.
