Cincinnati Open: Alcaraz Claims Title After Sinner Retires
Carlos Alcaraz wins the Cincinnati Open title after Jannik Sinner retires due to illness in the first set.
Carlos Alcaraz claimed the Cincinnati Open title after Jannik Sinner retired due to illness in the first set. Sinner, the world number one, struggled from the start, losing the first seven points of the match in the sweltering 30-degree Celsius heat. Alcaraz took advantage of Sinner's condition, racing to a 5-0 lead before the Italian retired after just 22 minutes, citing illness.
Sinner, who turned 24 on Saturday, revealed that he had been feeling unwell since Sunday and hoped his condition would improve overnight. However, his health issues persisted, forcing him to retire from the match. “I'm super-super sorry to disappoint you,” Sinner apologized to the fans during the trophy ceremony. “I was not feeling great yesterday, but I thought it would go away overnight. I tried to make it at least a small match, but I couldn't handle more.”
Heartbreaking 💔
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) August 18, 2025
Get better soon, @janniksin 🙏 pic.twitter.com/KMGSxJpEwG
Alcaraz expressed sympathy for his opponent, saying, “This is not the way I want to win trophies. I understand how Jannik is feeling right now.” He added that Sinner is “a true champion” and predicted that he'll return stronger than ever. The victory marked Alcaraz's 22nd career title and 17th win in a row at the Masters 1000 level. Both players will now focus on the US Open, which starts on Sunday.
Carlos Alcaraz has become the third Spaniard to claim the pre-US Open title, following in the footsteps of tennis legends Carlos Moya and Rafael Nadal.
Jannik Sinner will shift his focus to recovery with the US Open just around the corner, starting on Sunday. However, his plans to participate in the US Open's revamped mixed doubles event, scheduled for August 19-20, are now uncertain. Sinner was set to team up with Emma Navarro in the mixed doubles tournament.
US Open Mixed Doubles Teams:
- Jannik Sinner and Emma Navarro: Their partnership was announced, but Sinner's participation is now in doubt due to his focus on recovery.
- Carlos Alcaraz and Emma Raducanu: This high-profile pairing is expected to draw significant attention, with Alcaraz confirming he made a special request to partner with Raducanu.
- Novak Djokovic and Olga Danilovic: The Serbian tennis star will team up with his compatriot in the mixed doubles event.
“I'm super-super sorry to disappoint you,” Sinner said at the trophy ceremony to fans. “I was not feeling great yesterday but I thought it would go away overnight.
“I tried to make it at least a small match but I could not handle more.”
The defending champion, Jannik Sinner, who recently turned 24, expressed his regret to the fans, saying, “Some of you had to work or do other things today, so I'm really sorry.”
“I'm sorry to disappoint. Congrats to Carlos, I know this is not how you wanted to win. You are having an amazing season.”
Next stop NYC 💪@janniksin @carlosalcaraz #CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/7GBgqpg7C9
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) August 18, 2025
“I'm sorry to disappoint but sometimes it's like this. This has been one of the hottest tournaments we have played.”
Jannik Sinner's final in Cincinnati was cut short, lasting only 22 minutes. He called for the doctor after losing the fifth game and briefly went to shake hands with Carlos Alcaraz before retiring due to illness.
This wasn't the first time Sinner had benefited from an opponent's health issues, as Alexander Zverev struggled with illness in the semi-finals. Zverev's condition worsened in the later stages of their match, allowing Sinner to advance to the final.
Carlos Alcaraz claimed his 22nd career title and 17th consecutive victory at the Masters 1000 level. However, he expressed sympathy for his opponent, saying, “This is not the way I want to win trophies. I understand how Jannik is feeling right now.”
He called the Italian “a true champion, I know you will come back better and stronger than ever.”
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