Alexander Zverev defeated Frenchman Térence Atmane in two tiebreaks in Cincinnati and advanced to the round of 16, where he will face American Tommy Paul. The victory strengthened the German's effectiveness against left-handed players, one of the distinctive strengths of his game.
In his second-round debut, Zverev had faced British player Cameron Norrie, who forced the German to come back to stay in the tournament. Both attacking left-handed opponents created a recurring pattern in Zverev's performance at the tournament.
In his last 44 matches against left-handed players, Zverev has won 43, according to reports from the circuit. Learner Tien was the only one to defeat him in this period, at the ATP 500 in Acapulco 2025. Zverev's record against left-handers stands at 87-18, which represents 82.9% efficiency in the Open Era.
This mark places Zverev as the third most effective player of all time against left-handed players. Pete Sampras has 84% efficiency, while Rafael Nadal leads the list with 87%.