Carlos Alcaraz captured his first Cincinnati Open crown in a thrilling championship match. This was the final major blow to Jannik Sinner, who was forced to retire just 23 minutes into the match due to illness. This triumph was yet another big notch on Alcaraz’s belt. In the process, it snapped Sinner’s remarkable 26-match winning streak on hard courts. That high-stakes match—which was their 14th meeting—only underscored the growing rivalry between two of tennis’s brightest stars.
Alcaraz won the Cincinnati Open, pretty much sealing the deal on his historic season. This win brings his total ATP titles up to 22, and is his sixth title of the year. The young Spaniard is producing high-quality performances on sight. This has brought him to within just 285 points of Sinner at the top of the ATP world rankings.
Sinner, who was somewhat teary-eyed in his postmatch interview, lamented not being able to finish the fight in the championship. He clarified that he hadn’t been well since yesterday. He was hoping that overnight he would feel better but just the opposite occurred.
“I’m super, super sorry to disappoint you,” – Jannik Sinner
The brief match saw Alcaraz initially take control before Sinner, unable to compete at his usual level, decided to retire. This was a crushing strike against Sinner. Fans took to that too, as they’d dreamt of a dramatic Westbrook-Durant battle royale, complete with all the fireworks and drama those two players would have brought. Alcaraz later paid his respects to the unfortunate circumstances leading up to the match and wished Sinner well.
“Nobody likes to win because their opponent retires, especially in a final like this. Wishing you a speedy recovery! Very happy with my week in Cincinnati and feeling ready for the US Open.” – Carlos Alcaraz
With this hardware in hand, Alcaraz solidifies his ongoing reign over the competitive tennis landscape. Now, he and Sinner have split three each of the last seven Grand Slam titles. Sinner’s status is still up in the air with the US Open mixed doubles just days away. This development deepens worry for his fans and supporters.
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