Carlos Alcaraz lifted the Cincinnati Open trophy on Monday in unexpected fashion after Jannik Sinner, the world No. 1, was forced to retire due to illness just 23 minutes into the final. The Spaniard was leading 5–0 in the opening set when Sinner signaled he could not continue, ending his 26-match unbeaten run on hard courts.
The abrupt finish not only handed Alcaraz his third Masters 1000 title of the year—after Monte Carlo and Rome—but also raised questions about Sinner’s fitness just days before he begins the defense of his U.S. Open crown.
Sinner’s Struggles in the Heat
The 22-year-old Italian looked unwell from the start in Cincinnati’s stifling conditions. After a brief attempt to push through, he told the crowd he had no choice but to stop.
“Yesterday I already didn’t feel great,” Sinner explained. “I thought I’d feel better today, but it got worse. I wanted to at least try, but I couldn’t handle more.”
His withdrawal leaves uncertainty not only around his U.S. Open singles campaign, which begins Sunday, but also his scheduled participation in the new mixed doubles event at Flushing Meadows this week.
Sportsmanship on Display
Despite winning under anticlimactic circumstances, Alcaraz showed respect for his rival.
“This isn’t the way I want to win titles,” the 21-year-old said during the trophy ceremony. “Jannik is a true champion, and I’m sure he’ll come back stronger, as he always does.”
The two have developed one of tennis’s most compelling rivalries in recent years. Their last two meetings came on the grandest stages—Alcaraz winning an epic comeback at Roland Garros, and Sinner edging him at Wimbledon.
Rivalry Set to Define the Season
Monday’s result gives Alcaraz a 9–5 edge in their head-to-head, including a clear advantage on hard courts (6–2). But the real battle is likely still ahead. Many had billed the Cincinnati final as a preview of a possible U.S. Open showdown between the sport’s two brightest young stars.
With Sinner’s health now a major question mark, the next chapter of this rivalry may hinge on whether the Italian can recover in time to defend his title in New York.