Carlos Alcaraz wins Cincinnati Open after Jannik Sinner retires in final

CINCINNATI – Jannik Sinner insisted on Aug 18 that he would be ready to defend his US Open crown after illness forced him to retire from his Cincinnati Open final clash with Carlos Alcaraz.

World No. 1 Sinner – who had been due to play in the US Open’s revamped mixed doubles tournament on Aug 19 (Aug 20, Singapore time) – conceded defeat to Alcaraz on Aug 18 after going 5-0 down in the first set.

“I’m super, super sorry to disappoint you,” he told the crowd. “Yesterday I didn’t feel great. I thought that I would improve during the night, but it came up worse.

“I tried to come out, tried to make it at least a small match, but I couldn’t handle more.”

The Italian did not speak to journalists after the loss, issuing a statement saying only that he would definitely play at the US Open in New York, where the singles main draw starts on Aug 24.

“I love Grand Slams a lot, they are the main tournaments for my season and my career,” Sinner said.

“The US Open is going to be a tough tournament, but in the same time, I’m looking forward to it if I’m ready, physically and mentally.

“I will be ready to push... now a couple of days of recovery, and then we get again back to work, and hopefully, we’ll be ready.

“(The US Open) is for sure, the main goal here in the US. For now, recovery is the most important.”

On Aug 19, US Open organisers confirmed that the Italian and Katerina Siniakova had withdrawn from the mixed doubles “after Sinner was forced to retire due to illness during the Cincinnati Open final”.

The Cincinnati clash with Alcaraz had been expected to be a dress rehearsal ahead of a potential final showdown between the world’s two best players in New York, with the duo having faced off for the title at the last two Slams.

Alcaraz came from two sets down and saved three championship points to triumph at Roland Garros, while Sinner emerged victorious at Wimbledon.

This time, the Italian lasted for just 23 minutes, calling for the doctor after losing the fifth game and going to shake hands with his rival shortly after.

It was the second match in a row Alcaraz had won over an ailing opponent, following his win over Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals.

The Spaniard won his 22nd tour-level title as he claimed his 17th victory in a row at the Masters 1000 level.

He now leads Sinner 9-5 but lost to the Italian in their last match, the Wimbledon final in July.

“Obviously, it’s not the way that I wanted to win the final,” Alcaraz said. “First of all, I just want to wish Jannik a speedy recovery. Hopefully, in a few days, he’s going to be okay to prepare and practise well to the US Open.

“For myself, I’m just really, really happy to be able to leave with the trophy, since I just lost that final in 2023 (to Novak Djokovic) I just wanted really, really badly this, this trophy.”

Former US Open winner Alcaraz, who was upset in the second round in 2024 by Botic van de Zandschulp, is looking forward to a more respectable showing.

“I’m feeling a lot of confidence. New York is a place that I love playing... it is where I got my first Grand Slam,” he added.

“I appreciate the love and the support that I received there every, every year... last year it was disappointing, the level that I played there.

“So this year, I really want to show my really good tennis, my best tennis, try to go as far as I can, enjoy as much as I can.”

In other news, Kyle Edmund has been forced to retire at the age of 30 after going through a turbulent few years due to injuries, the former British No. 1 said.

Edmund, who rose to a career-high world ranking of 14th in October 2018 after winning his maiden ATP Tour title in Antwerp, also reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open earlier that same year, becoming the second British man since Andy Murray to achieve the feat in the Open Era.

His second ATP title came at the 2020 New York Open.

However, injuries derailed his career, forcing him to undergo knee surgery in November 2020, March 2021 and May 2022.

He also struggled with wrist, abdominal, hip and foot injuries. AFP, REUTERS