Carlos Alcaraz won the Cincinnati Open after top seed Jannik Sinner retired unwell in Monday’s final, raising doubts over the Italian’s fitness days before his US Open title defence. The Spanish second seed ended Sinner’s 26-match hardcourt winning streak as the world number one conceded while trailing 5-0 after just 23 minutes in sweltering conditions.
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“This is not the way I want to win trophies. I just have to say sorry,” Alcaraz said during the ceremony after securing his third Masters 1000 crown of the season following earlier triumphs in Monte Carlo and Rome. He praised Sinner as “a true champion” and backed him to return stronger.
Sinner, chasing a second straight Cincinnati title, admitted he had felt unwell the previous day. “I tried to come out, tried to make it at least a small match, but I couldn’t handle more,” he told the crowd, apologizing for his withdrawal. His participation in the US Open mixed doubles event, set to begin this week, also remains uncertain.
The clash had been billed as a preview of a possible US Open final, with the pair having split the last two Grand Slam title matches. Alcaraz saved three match points to win at Roland Garros, while Sinner triumphed at Wimbledon. Monday’s result extended Alcaraz’s head-to-head dominance to 9-5 overall and 6-2 on hardcourts.
Later in the evening, Iga Swiatek captured her first Cincinnati Open crown with a 7-5, 6-4 victory over Italy’s Jasmine Paolini. The six-time Grand Slam champion did not drop a set en route to her 11th WTA 1000 title, converting all six break points in a clinical performance. Her win lifts her back to world number two ahead of the US Open, where she will also compete in mixed doubles with Casper Ruud.
Swiatek rallied from an early 0-3 deficit in the opening set to seize control, before holding firm in the second to seal the win at her first opportunity. The result extends her flawless record against Paolini to 6-0. “I’m shocked and super happy,” Swiatek said, crediting her team for pushing her to improve on faster surfaces.
With both Alcaraz and Swiatek in strong form, the stage is set for a dramatic final major of the year at Flushing Meadows beginning Sunday.
