De Minaur battles through rain to reach Cincinnati last 16

Alex de Minaur weathered both a rain delay

Alex de Minaur weathered both a rain delay and a determined challenge from Britain's top-ranked player, Arthur Fery, to secure his spot in the round of 16 at the Cincinnati Masters, a key tune-up for the upcoming US Open.

The Australian, seeded among the top contenders, showed resilience as play was halted due to showers, but he returned to court with focus, breaking Fery's serve early in the decisive moments of the match. Fery, who has been climbing the rankings, pushed De Minaur with aggressive baseline play, but the experienced campaigner held firm under pressure.

De Minaur's victory extends his winning streak on hard courts this summer, a surface where he has found consistent success. The 25-year-old's speed and court coverage proved too much for Fery in the end, as he closed out the match in straight sets, 7-5, 6-3, after nearly two hours of play.

"It was tough with the stoppage, but I've

"It was tough with the stoppage, but I've been working on staying sharp in those situations," De Minaur said in his on-court interview. "Arthur played well, but I'm happy with how I managed the key points."

Next up for De Minaur is a clash with a yet-to-be-determined opponent, as he aims to build momentum ahead of the season's final Grand Slam. The Cincinnati event has historically been a strong indicator of form for US Open contenders, and De Minaur's steady progress suggests he is peaking at the right time.

With the win, De Minaur improves his career record at this tournament and will look to extend his run when play resumes later this week. Fans will be watching closely to see if he can capture his first Masters 1000 title on American soil.