Carlos Alcaraz won his first Cincinnati Open title after Jannik Sinner was forced to retire midway through the final due to illness. The unfortunate withdrawal has raised doubts about Sinner’s readiness for the upcoming US Open, while Alcaraz now prepares to compete in mixed doubles alongside Emma Raducanu.
The Spaniard clinched the title on Monday, August 18, at P&G Centre Court after Sinner, trailing 0-5 in the opening set, made the difficult decision to stop after just 23 minutes of play.
The victory marked a significant milestone for Alcaraz, already a five-time Grand Slam champion, as he became only the third Spaniard—after Carlos Moya (2002) and Rafael Nadal (2013)—to lift the ATP Masters 1000 trophy in Cincinnati. It was also his sixth title of the year, highlighted by his first Wimbledon crown. At the same time, he became the youngest champion in Cincinnati since Andy Murray in 2008.
As Sinner walked off the court, Alcaraz approached his opponent with empathy, offering words of encouragement:
“I just want to say sorry. I know and understand how you’re feeling right now. All I can say—as I’ve said many times before—is that you are truly a champion. I’m confident that from this situation, you’ll come back even stronger. You always do—that’s what true champions do. You really are one. Sorry, and come back stronger.”
From the outset, Alcaraz took control, breaking Sinner’s serve early and quickly establishing a 2-0 lead. He continued to press hard, securing a double-break to move 3-0 ahead and putting immense pressure on the Italian.
Sinner briefly resisted in the third game, rallying from 0-40 to 30-40, but an unforced error handed Alcaraz a 4-0 advantage. By 5-0, Sinner’s physical struggles were evident, culminating in a double fault that underscored both his fatigue and the impossibility of carrying on.
Sinner’s retirement leaves questions about his fitness for the 2025 US Open, where he is the defending champion. He is also scheduled to play mixed doubles with Katerina Siniakova, though his participation in New York remains uncertain.
Meanwhile, Alcaraz is set to make his mixed doubles debut at the US Open, teaming up with 2021 champion Emma Raducanu. The pair will take on the British-American duo of Jack Draper and Jessica Pegula, adding another exciting chapter to what has already been a remarkable summer for the young Spaniard.
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