Cincinnati: Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz won the Cincinnati Open after top seed Jannik Sinner retired due to illness, ending the Italian’s 26-match winning streak on hardcourts and sparking questions about his fitness ahead of the US Open.
The second-seeded Alcaraz was leading 5-0 in the first set of the final when Sinner signalled he could not continue, ending a highly anticipated matchup in just 23 minutes. The result gave Alcaraz his third Masters 1000 title of the season, following victories in Monte Carlo and Rome.
“This is not the way that I want to win trophies. I just have to say sorry; I can understand how you must feel now. As I said many times, you are a true champion, and I am sure that from these situations you are going to come back even stronger, as you always do. That’s what true champions do,” Alcaraz told Sinner during the presentation ceremony.
— Cincinnati Open (@CincyTennis) August 18, 2025
Sinner, who had been attempting to become the first man since Roger Federer in 2015 to win back-to-back Cincinnati titles, looked uncomfortable in the sweltering conditions and struggled from the start.
The retirement has raised doubts about whether Sinner will be fit to participate in the revamped mixed doubles event at the U.S. Open with Katerina Siniakova, scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday. Singles action at the hardcourt Grand Slam begins on Sunday.
Monday’s final had been expected as a dress rehearsal for a potential US Open showdown between the two, following their encounters in the finals of the last two majors. Alcaraz triumphed at Roland Garros after saving three championship points, while Sinner emerged victorious at Wimbledon. The result also extended Alcaraz’s head-to-head record over Sinner to 9–5, including a 6–2 advantage on hardcourts.
