World number one Jannik Sinner defeats Frances Tiafoe to claim the Cincinnati Open title, proving he’s a contender for the U.S. Open despite recent health issues.
Bollywood Fever: World number one Jannik Sinner secured a commanding victory over Frances Tiafoe, winning 7-6(4) 6-2 in the Cincinnati Open final on Monday. Despite recent health challenges, including a hip issue and a bout of tonsillitis that forced him to miss the Paris Olympics, Sinner demonstrated his resilience and solidified his status as a top contender for the upcoming U.S. Open in New York.
The 23-year-old Italian started the match against Tiafoe with some visible struggles, appearing error-prone and limping after several points during the tightly contested first set. However, Sinner found his rhythm in the tiebreak, handling Tiafoe’s powerful serve on set point. The American’s next shot went long, allowing Sinner to claim the opener.
Tiafoe, who has had difficulty finding momentum this season, missed crucial opportunities to break Sinner in the first set. His inability to capitalize on these chances put him at a disadvantage, and he quickly fell into a 2-0 deficit at the start of the second set, from which he never recovered. Sinner sealed his victory with a forehand winner and an unreturnable serve on match point.
This triumph marks Sinner’s fifth title of the year and his first win at the Masters 1000 event in Ohio. It follows his impressive Grand Slam breakthrough at the Australian Open in January. Importantly, Sinner’s performance in Cincinnati proves that he can compete and win even when not fully healthy—an essential trait as he prepares for the U.S. Open, where he will face tough competition from defending champion Novak Djokovic and world number three Carlos Alcaraz.
“It was a very difficult week, tough week. I’m very happy about today’s match,” Sinner said in his on-court interview. “It was very tough mentally… We both felt a lot of tension, but I’m very glad about the level I played, especially in the important moments.”
Looking ahead, Sinner emphasized the importance of recovery as he prepares for the year’s final major. “Now, for sure, it’s important to recover, to be ready for New York,” he said. “I’m very happy to be in the position where I am and just trying to keep going mentally with this hunger to keep playing.”
Tiafoe, who will rise to world number 20 following the tournament, expressed satisfaction with his performance, particularly after his gutsy three-set victory over Holger Rune in the semi-finals. “I’ve been struggling for a really long time so to have a week like this really means a lot,” Tiafoe said.
As both players set their sights on the U.S. Open, Sinner’s victory in Cincinnati adds momentum to his quest for a first Grand Slam title, while Tiafoe will look to build on his promising form.
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