Alexander Zverev overcame a spirited performance from Cameron Norrie to triumph 3-6 6-3 6-3 in his second-round match at the Cincinnati Open.

Top seed Zverev, who saw fellow big name Novak Djokovic eliminated by Thiago Agustin Tirante earlier on Saturday, was facing up to an upset of his own when he went a set down.

Being broken in his very first service game cost Zverev the opening set, after he had threatened to do likewise to Norrie in the opening game of the encounter.

Norrie served impressively after getting his nose in front, not giving up a single break point for the remainder of the first set.

But Zverev fought back to triumph in just over two-and-a-half hours. The German started the second set with four consecutive love holds, and a solitary break in game six ensured he levelled the match.

Six break points then came and went for Zverev in game one of the decider, but that was a sign of things to come as he continued to apply ferocious pressure to Norrie's serve, finally breaking in game seven.

Norrie missed a chance to break back in game eight, then Zverev sealed the deal by winning another game on his opponent's serve, clinching match point when the Brit thrashed a forehand into the net.  

Zverev will face Terence Atmane in the next round, with Alex De Minaur, Jiri Lehecka, Tommy Paul and Rafael Jodar also advancing.

All four of those players were victorious in three sets, with De Minaur put through his paces by Quentin Halys, Lehecka beating Matteo Berrettini, Paul downing Hubert Hurkacz and Jodar overcoming Denis Shapovalov.

2h35m of pure fight @AlexZverev overcomes a late night test from Norrie to reach the 3R in Cincy 3-6, 6-3, 6-3#CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/LXGzPEUr5c

— Cincinnati Open (@CincyTennis) August 16, 2026

Zverev avoids another upset

Zverev had been the red-hot favourite at the Canadian Open, with Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz among a host of big-name players to withdraw. 

He fell at the first hurdle against Tallon Griekspoor on that occasion, though, and it looked like a repeat might be on the cards when Norrie took the opener here.

But Zverev – the second German to be seeded first in Cincinnati in the Open Era, after Boris Becker – found his feet to maintain his perfect record against Norrie. He is now 8-0 against the Brit at ATP level.

Zverev has now won 45 matches at ATP events this year, overtaking Sinner (44) for the most by any player on the Tour outright.

He has also won 14 consecutive matches against left-handed players, last losing to Learner Tien in Acapulco (round of 16) last season.