What was billed as another classic final against rival Carlos Alcaraz collapsed in just 23 minutes, as the reigning champion, Italian Jannik Sinner, retired due to illness, raising major questions about his fitness just days before the start of the year’s final Grand Slam.
The Italian entered the final on a hot streak, having reached back-to-back finals without dropping a single set. But under the sweltering Ohio sun, with temperatures soaring over 30° Celsius, his run came to a grinding halt.
Already trailing Alcaraz 0-5 in the opening set on Monday, Sinner called for a medical timeout. After a brief consultation with on-court medics, he walked to the net and conceded the match, handing a surprised Alcaraz his first Cincinnati title.
Warning signs had been present all week. Sinner, usually sharp in Cincinnati, had to iron out kinks in his game, even resorting to a late-night practice session with coaches Simone Vagnozzi and Darren Cahill after his match against Gabriel Diallo to fix a faltering serve.
The weather in Cincinnati was brutal
The brutal heat, which drew complaints from players like Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev, and Ben Shelton, took a visible toll. During his grueling semi-final against rising star Terence Atmane, Sinner was seen pouring water over his head at changeovers, fighting through clear exhaustion before clawing his way to a 7-6(4), 6-2 victory.
Despite the gutting end to his week, Sinner remained outwardly positive. “Now I have already some points where I need to improve if I want to go far in US Open,” he told the ATP. “It was a good test this week, trying to understand where my level is. My level is in a good spot, for sure, but in the other way, there’s still room to improve.”
His focus now shifts entirely to New York. “I love Grand Slams a lot. This is the main, main tournaments for my season,” he affirmed. “If I’m ready, physically and mentally, I will be ready to push.”
Sinner has a busy schedule in New York
Adding another layer of intrigue, Sinner is scheduled to take the court tomorrow in the US Open for mixed doubles with new partner Kateina Siniaková, after his original partner, Emma Navarro, withdrew to play in Monterrey. The quick turnaround will be a major test of his recovery.
For now, the Italian is prioritizing rest. “Now a couple of days of recovery, and then, you know, we get again back to work, and hopefully we’ll be ready.” While Cincinnati ended in disappointment for his fans, Sinner has shown remarkable resilience all year, and he may yet unleash his best when the Flushing Meadows lights shine brightest.
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