What was supposed to be another epic showdown between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz ended in disappointment on Monday. Sinner, looking unwell from the start, retired while trailing 5-0 in the first set of the Cincinnati Open final.
The world No. 1 admitted afterward that he had been feeling sick since Sunday.
“I’m super, super sorry to disappoint you,” Sinner told fans during the trophy ceremony. “From yesterday, I didn’t feel great. I thought I would improve overnight, but it got worse. I tried to come out and at least make it a small match, but I couldn’t handle more.”
Sinner, who recently beat Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final, looked out of sorts in the heat. He double-faulted twice early, called for ice, and couldn’t keep pace with Alcaraz before deciding to stop. Alcaraz consoled his rival after the match and wrote “Sorry Jannik” on the TV camera lens.
The timing of Sinner’s retirement is worrying. The US Open starts Sunday, where he is the defending champion and chasing his third Grand Slam title of 2024 after wins at the Australian Open and Wimbledon. His illness now raises doubts about his readiness to defend his crown.
This Cincinnati clash was the 15th meeting between the two young stars, but it never lived up to the hype of their recent battles — including Alcaraz’s five-set French Open victory and Sinner’s four-set Wimbledon triumph. With the win, Alcaraz now leads their rivalry 9-5 and has won six of the last seven.
