Carlos Alcaraz lifted the Cincinnati Open trophy for the first time in his career after Jannik Sinner was forced to retire from their much-anticipated men’s singles final due to illness. The world No. 1, who came into the match on a remarkable winning streak, appeared visibly unwell from the start and retired trailing 0-5 in the opening set.
Sinner later explained that he had been feeling ill since the previous day but attempted to play through for the sake of the fans. Despite trying to keep rallies short with aggressive forehands, his movement deteriorated and his energy levels dipped rapidly in the hot, humid conditions. After calling for the trainer and double-faulting to fall further behind, the Italian decided he could no longer continue.
Alcaraz, who had remained composed and intense throughout the brief contest, immediately showed compassion towards his rival, embracing him at the net and offering words of encouragement. The Spaniard admitted afterwards that it was not the way he had envisioned winning the prestigious tournament but expressed confidence that Sinner would recover and return stronger.
This victory marks Alcaraz’s eighth ATP Masters 1000 title at just 22 years of age, matching Rafael Nadal’s record of reaching that milestone so young. Two years after falling short against Novak Djokovic in what is remembered as one of the greatest finals in tournament history, Alcaraz finally secured the crown in Cincinnati, though not in the fashion he might have preferred.
Meanwhile, in the women’s singles final, Iga Swiatek showcased her resilience to defeat Italy’s Jasmine Paolini 7-5, 6-4 and claim her 24th career singles title. The third-ranked Swiatek had previously struggled to progress deep into the Cincinnati event, falling at the semifinal stage in six appearances. This year, she broke that barrier with a composed performance to secure the championship.
Paolini started brightly, racing to a 3-0 lead in the first set, but Swiatek mounted a strong response to turn the tide. The Polish star’s consistency on serve, including eight aces, proved decisive as she closed out both sets despite Paolini’s spirited fightback.
The Italian, making history as the first woman from her country to reach the final in Cincinnati, continues her impressive rise. Since her breakthrough in 2023, she has collected two Grand Slam finals appearances, a doubles major, and an Olympic gold medal, cementing her place among the elite of the sport.
