Alexander Zverev, the world No. 3 and 2021 Cincinnati Open champion, expressed frustration with the court conditions at the 2025 Cincinnati Open, held from August 7–18 at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio. In a press conference on August 10, 2025, ahead of his debut, Zverev criticized the newly renovated courts, describing them as “extremely slow” compared to the historically fast surfaces of the tournament. He told *Eurosport*, “Cincinnati was a very fast tournament in the past, but it’s become extremely slow now. I’m not sure what the reason behind this is, especially since in New York [US Open] the courts will be very fast again. I’m not a huge fan of this surface,” per,, and.[]
Zverev’s comments contrast sharply with his later observations after defeating Karen Khachanov 6-3, 6-2 in the second round on August 15, 2025, where he described the courts as “probably one of the fastest we play this year,” noting the ball travels “very, very quickly in the air,” per,. This apparent shift in perception sparked confusion, with *tennis365.com* reporting that Zverev’s initial complaints about the slow surface were echoed by Daniil Medvedev but contradicted by other players like Jack Draper, who called the courts “the fastest I have ever played on,” per. The $260 million renovation, adding 13 new courts and a 2,300-seat underground arena, may have contributed to inconsistent surface speeds, per.[]
Zverev’s initial frustration likely stemmed from the contrast with the faster US Open courts, where he reached the 2020 final, and his discomfort adjusting post-Toronto, where he reached the semifinals, per. Despite his concerns, Zverev’s performance remained strong, advancing to face Pablo Carreño Busta next, per. Posts on X, like @fugaziplacebo, noted the courts seemed “super fast” with many aces, aligning with Zverev’s later assessment, while @isabela18041982 highlighted his broader comments on the US hard-court swing, per,. His ability to adapt, despite early complaints, positions him as a contender for another Cincinnati title, per *atptour.com*.[]
