Carlos Alcaraz claimed his 22nd career title after Jannik Sinner retired ill in the Cincinnati final. Image: Getty Images.
(The Post News)– Carlos Alcaraz lifted the ATP Cincinnati Open trophy on Monday. This followed defending champion Jannik Sinner’s forced retirement from the opening set due to sickness.
World No. 1 Sinner looked unwell from the start, quickly falling 5-0 behind before deciding he could no longer continue. The final, which marked the fourth clash between the two this season, ended after just 22 minutes when the Italian called for the doctor before conceding.
The defeat comes at a difficult time for Sinner, who now turns his attention to recovering ahead of the US Open beginning on Sunday. His involvement in the newly revamped mixed doubles, scheduled for Tuesday, is also in doubt. The Italian, who celebrated his 24th birthday last weekend, expressed regret to fans in attendance. He admitted that he had hoped to push through but his body gave in.
Alcaraz, while celebrating his 22nd career title and extending his Masters 1000 winning streak to 17 matches, made it clear this was not the way he wanted to claim victory. He praised Sinner’s resilience and said he expected his rival to return stronger.
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