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Carlos Alcaraz won the Cincinnati Open after Jannik Sinner retired ill.
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It was Alcaraz’s 22nd title and 17th straight Masters 1000 win.
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Sinner now targets recovery for the US Open.
Carlos Alcaraz won the ATP Cincinnati Open on Monday after defending champion Jannik Sinner retired due to illness in the opening set.
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Sinner, the world No. 1, looked unwell from the first ball. He dropped the opening seven points and fell 5-0 behind in 30°C heat before walking off court.
His attention now turns to recovery ahead of the US Open.
“I’m disappointed. I didn’t feel great yesterday and thought I’d recover better overnight, but it wasn’t the case,” – Sinner said.
“I went out there for the fans, but it wasn’t meant to be. Carlos had a great tournament.”
The Italian refused to dwell on the setback.
“The main focus is the US Open. It’s been an incredible season so far. I’ll keep pushing and improving to go far in New York,” – he added.
The match lasted just 22 minutes before Sinner quit.
Alcaraz collected his 22nd career title and stretched his Masters 1000 winning streak to 17 matches.
He now leads their rivalry 9-5, though Sinner beat him at Wimbledon last month.
“Obviously it’s not the way I wanted to win. I just wish Jannik a speedy recovery. Personally, I’m proud to lift this trophy. After losing here in 2023, I really wanted it badly.” – Alcaraz said.
The Spaniard, a former US Open champion, wants redemption after last year’s early exit in New York.
“I’m feeling very confident. New York is special for me—it’s where I won my first Grand Slam. Last year was disappointing, but this time I want to show my best tennis and enjoy every moment.” – he said.
Alcaraz carries momentum into the US Open, while fans wait to see if Sinner recovers in time.
