In a shocking turn of events, Jannik Sinner retired just 23 minutes into the first set of the Cincinnati Open final against Carlos Alcaraz. This highly anticipated matchup between two of the world's elite men's tennis players ended abruptly, leaving fans and commentators stunned. Sinner, who started the match looking off his game, quickly fell into a 5-0 deficit before conceding to Alcaraz, granting him his 22nd ATP title.
After the match, Alcaraz expressed his concern for Sinner, noting, “After the third game, I just noticed that he wasn’t feeling good at all.” He added, “I know him. I’ve been battling against him for two years, having great matches, great battles. I noticed that he was being more aggressive than he used to be and was missing more often. It was pretty weird for him.” Alcaraz's keen observation of Sinner's body language indicated something was amiss, leading to a premature conclusion of what could have been an exciting contest.
Addressing the crowd post-match, Sinner expressed his regret for disappointing the fans who had come to witness the showdown. He revealed, “I hadn’t felt great the day before, and I’m super, super sorry to disappoint you all.” Sinner elaborated, stating, “I thought I would improve during the night, but it came up worse. I tried to come out and make it at least a small match, but I couldn’t handle more.” His heartfelt apology resonated with the audience, many of whom may have rearranged their schedules to attend this highly anticipated final.
Sinner's retirement came after he called for a trainer when Alcaraz took the commanding lead. Shortly thereafter, the chair umpire announced his withdrawal from the match. In a show of sportsmanship, Alcaraz signed one of the broadcast cameras with a message, “Sorry Jannik.” He expressed his sentiments post-match, stating, “This is not the way that I want to win trophies. I’m sorry, I can understand how you must feel now.” Alcaraz further praised Sinner’s resilience, affirming, “You are a true champion, and I am sure from these situations, you are going to come back even stronger, as you always do.”
The unexpected retirement from the Cincinnati Open final raises questions about Sinner's health and participation in the U.S. Open, set to start soon. The mixed doubles tournament, in which Sinner is scheduled to compete, begins on Tuesday. His recent illness casts doubt on his ability to participate, leaving fans to wonder if he will recover in time to take the court again.
