CINCINNATI: A blockbuster final fizzled out early as world number one Jannik Sinner retired in the first set, handing Carlos Alcaraz the Cincinnati Open title on Monday.

In the women’s final, Iga Swiatek captured her maiden Cincinnati crown by beating Jasmine Paolini 7-5, 6-4, converting all six of her break points to clinch her 11th WTA 1000 crown.

The defending champion Sinner came into the final feeling unwell and lost the first seven points of the match before throwing in the towel at 5-0 down in a game played in 30-degree Celsius heat.

Sinner will now focus on recovery with the US Open starting on Sunday.

“I’m disappointed, I didn’t feel great from yesterday,” Sinner said afterwards. “During the night, I thought I would recover a bit better, but it was not the case.

“I just tried to go out for the fans, trying to give (them) a match — that’s the reason why I went on the court.

“But it was not meant to be for me today. But I don’t want to take anything away from Carlos. He had a great week, great, great tournament again.”

Sinner said he is now pointing to the final Grand Slam of the season.

“The main focus, obviously, is for the US Open. Recovery is the most important. And then we see,” he said.

Despite the temporary health setback, Sinner is pleased with his showings in 2025.

“I feel like it’s an incredible season,” he said. “We’ll keep going, keep pushing. I have some points to improve if I want to go far in the US Open.

Sinner lasted for just 22 minutes, calling for the doctor after losing the fifth game and shortly after going to shake hands with Alcaraz.

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.

Alcaraz won his 22nd career title as he claimed his 17th victory in a row at the Masters 1000 level.

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

“Obviously it’s not the way that I wanted to win the final,” the Spaniard 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 practice well for the US Open.

“For myself, I’m just really, really happy to be able to leave the with trophy, since I just lost that final in 2023 [to Novak Djokovic] I just wanted really, really badly this, this trophy, so I just really proud and happy to be able to lift it.”

Former Open winner Alcaraz, who was upset in the second round a year ago, is looking forward to a more respectable showing in New York.

“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.

Later on Monday, the Pole third seed Swiatek sent a powerful message ahead of the US Open. The six-times Grand Slam winner Swiatek did not drop a set on her way to the title and was clinical in the final.

The final lasting for just under two hours featured 16 break-point chances, with the Polish winner converting on six of 10 while Paolini struggled to make the most of her break opportunities.

She is now the second all-time winner in the WTA 1000 format history, trailing only Serena Williams (23).

“I want to thank my team. I don’t know why I won tournaments that were like the last ones in terms of where I thought I would be playing well,” Swiatek, who won her first WTA title since last year’s Italian Open, said.

Paolini made the brighter start, surging to a 3-0 lead and pushing Swiatek to the brink of a double break. Yet the Pole responded with a five-game run and, after squandering her first chance to serve out the opening set, closed it on her second attempt.

Swiatek carried her momentum into the second set, saving two break points at 4-3 before holding firm to move within one game of the title. She sealed victory at the first opportunity with a big serve, extending her perfect record against the Italian to 6–0.

The win ensures Wimbledon champion Swiatek will climb back to world number two, securing the second seed for the final major of the year at Flushing Meadows.

Swiatek is also set to team up with Norway’s Casper Ruud in the new US Open mixed doubles event.

Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2025