Alcaraz Wins the Cincinnati Open While Sinner Retires Due to Injury in the Final
Sinner had to quit the final of the Cincinnati Open because he was hurt, so Alcaraz won the title.
Top seed Jannik Sinner withdrew from the Cincinnati Open on Monday because he was sick, which raised questions about the Italian’s health just days before he starts defending his US Open title. Carlos Alcaraz won the tournament instead.
The Spanish second seed ended the world number one’s 26-match winning streak on hard courts when the injured top seed told his opponent he couldn’t go on while losing 5-0 in the first set of the final.
“This is not how I want to win trophies. I’m sorry, and I can understand how you must feel right now,” Alcaraz told Sinner at the awards event after winning his third Masters 1000 title of the season. He had already won in Monte Carlo and Rome.
You are a true champion, as I’ve said many times, and I’m sure you’ll come back even better from this, as you always do. Such a winner would do that.
Sinner wanted to become the first man since Roger Federer in 2015 to win back-to-back Cincinnati titles, but he looked unhappy at first because it was so hot. After 23 minutes of play, he quit.
Sinner told the crowd, “I’m so, so sorry to let you down.” “I didn’t feel good yesterday.” I thought I would feel better at night, but it got worse. It was too much for me to handle, so I’m sorry. I tried to come out and make it at least a small match.
Also, it wasn’t clear if the Italian would be healthy enough to play with Katerina Siniakova in the redesigned mixed doubles event at Flushing Meadows on Tuesday and Wednesday. Sunday is the first day of singles play at the hardcourt major.
The match on Monday was supposed to be a practice run for a possible final match between the two best players in the world in New York. These two players have played each other in the title match at the last two majors. At Roland Garros, Alcaraz came back from being down two sets to win and saved three title points. At Wimbledon, Sinner won.
With Monday’s win, Alcaraz now has a 9–5 record over Sinner in their head-to-head matches, including a 6–2 edge on hard courts.
