Carlos Alcaraz won the Cincinnati Open for the first time in his professional career as the world No. 1 Jannik Sinner had to retire from the final due to illness. The highly awaited match was brought to an unexpected conclusion with Alcaraz up 5-0 in the first set.
Sinner Fights Illness in Draining Conditions
Sinner looked ill from the very beginning, also battling both stifling 31 degrees celsius heat and 57% humidity. For all his efforts to play, the Italian’s stamina was clearly missing. His mobility was hampered, his face red, and he seemed physically exhausted through each changeover.
Sinner had been ill since Sunday and lost the first set with a weak service game, missing three of his first four first serves. Trying to shorten the points, he started taking wild swings at the ball, and the result was several unforced errors. By the fifth game, with no indication of improvement, Sinner requested the trainer. After double-faulting to send Alcaraz into a 5-0 lead, he made the painful decision to withdraw from the match.
A Display of Sportsmanship by Alcaraz
Following the end of the match, Alcaraz displayed his class by walking to the Italian’s bench and placing a reassuring arm across his opponent. Sinner described that he was not feeling well but had come to play for the fans. Alcaraz empathized, assuring him, “Don’t worry at all.”
Alcaraz Takes the Lead in Rivalry with Sinner
With this victory, Alcaraz now holds a 9-5 advantage over Sinner in their head-to-head clashes. The final was their 14th match and created another chapter to one of the greatest rivalries in contemporary tennis.
Sinner had not lost a single set throughout his run to the final, testifying to how bad timing his illness had. His withdrawal, however, presented Alcaraz with another milestone in his quick-evolving career.
Alcaraz Continues Big Titles Dominance
The win adds Carlos Alcaraz’s Big Titles total to 13, which includes Grand Slams, ATP Masters 1000, the Nitto ATP Finals, and Olympic singles gold medals. He has now captured a whopping eight ATP Masters 1000 titles, a figure topped only by active player Novak Djokovic (40).
Alcaraz has an 8-1 record in Masters 1000 finals, only losing at the 2023 Cincinnati final against Djokovic in a nail-biting three-seter.
A Breakthrough Year For Alcaraz
The Spaniard, who is 22 years old, has taken six titles this year, topping the ATP Tour. That counts four Big Titles: Roland Garros, and three Masters 1000 events – Monte Carlo, Rome, and now Cincinnati. It’s the first time in his career that he has achieved four Big Titles in one season, having won three each season from 2022-2024.
With the US Open, Shanghai, Paris Masters, and Nitto ATP Finals yet to be played, Alcaraz has a realistic opportunity of claiming even more silverware this year.
