Carlos Alcaraz lifted the ATP Cincinnati Open trophy on Monday after defending champion Jannik Sinner was forced to retire in the first set due to illness.
World No. 1 Sinner entered the final feeling unwell and lost the first seven points before conceding at 5–0, just 22 minutes into the match played in sweltering 30°C heat.
The Italian later admitted he had struggled overnight. “I’m disappointed, I didn’t feel great from yesterday,” Sinner said. “I just tried to go out for the fans, trying to give them a match – that’s the reason why I went on the court. But it was not meant to be for me today.”
Sinner, who is scheduled to appear in the US Open’s new mixed doubles event on Tuesday, now faces a race against time to recover before the year’s final Grand Slam begins on Sunday.
Despite the setback, the 23-year-old reflected positively on his season. “I feel like it’s an incredible season. We’ll keep going, keep pushing. I have some points to improve if I want to go far in the US Open.”
For Alcaraz, it was a second straight win over a struggling opponent after Alexander Zverev retired in their semi-final. The 21-year-old Spaniard sealed his 22nd career title and extended his Masters 1000 winning streak to 17 matches.
“Obviously it’s not the way that I wanted to win the final,” Alcaraz said. “I just want to wish Jannik a speedy recovery… For myself, I’m really proud and happy to be able to lift this trophy.”
Alcaraz, who lost to Novak Djokovic in the 2023 final, now holds a 9–5 career record against Sinner, though the Italian defeated him in last month’s Wimbledon final.
With New York next, the Spaniard says he is eager to make amends for his second-round exit a year ago. “New York is a place that I love playing… last year it was disappointing, the level that I played there. This year, I really want to show my best tennis, try to go as far as I can, and enjoy as much as I can.”
