Carlos Alcaraz claimed his maiden Cincinnati Open title on Monday, August 18, after Jannik Sinner retired midway through the final at P&G Centre Court due to illness. With Alcaraz leading 5-0 in the opening set, the World No.1 Sinner made the difficult decision to end the match after just 23 minutes.
The victory marked a memorable milestone for the five-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz, making him only the third Spaniard after Carlos Moya (2002) and Rafael Nadal (2013) to lift the ATP Masters 1000 trophy at Cincinnati. It was also Alcaraz’s sixth title this year, which also includes his first Wimbledon trophy.
At the same time, he became the youngest champion since Andy Murray in 2008. As Sinner walked off the court, Alcaraz approached his ailing opponent with empathy, a poignant reminder of the triumphs and struggles inherent in professional sport.
“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,” Alcaraz said.
Carlos Alcaraz dominates Jannik Sinner
From the very first serve, Alcaraz seized control, breaking Sinner’s serve early and quickly extending the lead to 2-0. He pressed relentlessly, moving to a double-break lead at 3-0 and putting immense pressure on the Italian.
Sinner showed brief resistance in the third game, rallying from 0-40 to 30-40, but an unforced error allowed Alcaraz to consolidate a 4-0 advantage. By 5-0, Sinner’s struggle was clear, culminating in a double fault that reflected both his exhaustion and the impossibility of continuing.
Sinner’s withdrawal raises questions about his readiness for the US Open in 2025, where he is the defending champion. He is also scheduled to compete in mixed doubles alongside Katerina Siniakova, but his ability to participate in New York remains uncertain.
Meanwhile, Alcaraz is set to take the court in mixed doubles at the US Open with 2021 champion Emma Raducanu. The pair will face the British-American duo of Jack Draper and Jessica Pegula, adding another exciting chapter to an already remarkable summer for the young Spaniard.
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