‘My head is spinning. I can’t get any…’: Alexander Zverev battles dizziness, struggles in Cincinnati semis vs Alcaraz

Alexander Zverev, the world No. 3, faced significant health challenges during his Cincinnati Open semifinal match against Carlos Alcaraz on August 17, 2025, ultimately losing 4-6, 3-6. The German star, who had been in strong form, struggled with dizziness and breathlessness, exacerbated by Cincinnati’s high temperatures, leading to a medical timeout in the second set. Zverev, heard saying, “My head is spinning. I can’t get any air into my lungs,” required on-court medical attention, including an inhaler, as reported by Hindustan Times (). Despite his efforts to continue, Zverev’s energy waned, allowing Alcaraz to secure his seventh consecutive ATP Tour final appearance against Jannik Sinner.

Zverev’s health issues first surfaced in his quarterfinal win over Ben Shelton, where he took a medical timeout at 2-1 in the second set, citing similar symptoms (). He admitted post-match, “I’m not feeling too great… it got progressively worse” (profootballnetwork.com, August 16, 2025). The heat, which also caused retirements like Karen Khachanov’s, likely intensified Zverev’s condition, possibly linked to his ongoing management of respiratory issues and diabetes (). Despite a strong start, matching Alcaraz’s cross-court game, Zverev’s performance deteriorated after losing the first set, with a second-set medical timeout marking a turning point ().[

Fans on X expressed concern, with one post noting, “Zverev asked for MTO, said was sweating abnormally, air couldn’t get in his lungs. Was able to finish but he didn’t look really well” (yyxtine2, August 16, 2025) (). Alcaraz, empathetic after the match, wrote on the camera, “Happy for the final. But feeling bad for Sascha 🙁 Wish you all the best” (). Zverev’s resilience was evident, as he completed the match despite his struggles, a testament to his competitive spirit seen in earlier wins over Nishesh Basavareddy and Brandon Nakashima ().

This health scare mirrors challenges faced by other athletes, like Emma Raducanu withdrawing from the US Open due to injuries or Alex de Minaur and Alexei Popyrin managing physical demands for the Davis Cup. Zverev’s condition raises concerns for his US Open preparation, where he’s a top contender. His history of battling through adversity, including a similar incident at the Halle Open (), underscores his determination, but the recurring nature of these episodes highlights the need for recovery focus ahead of Flushing Meadows.