Just a day ago, Carlos Alcaraz stormed past Alexander Zverev 6-4, 6-3, in a battle overshadowed by suffocating heat and Zverev’s physical struggles. The German fought hard in the opener but faded fast in the second, taking a medical timeout before returning visibly hampered, unable to summon his usual fire. Fans, though, still had reason to celebrate as the clash everyone craved: Alcaraz versus Jannik Sinner unfolded in the Cincinnati final. Yet, in a twist no one foresaw, the spectacle ended abruptly as Carlos Alcaraz broke character, standing stunned while Jannik Sinner retired, leaving the tournament finale draped in drama and unfinished fire.
Just moments ago, heartbreak struck as Jannik Sinner retired hurt during the opening set of the Cincinnati final, gifting Carlos Alcaraz his maiden crown at the tournament and a sixth title of 2025. What was billed as another epic showdown between tennis’s fiercest young rivals ended in a stunning anticlimax, with Sinner visibly emotional as Alcaraz crossed the court to console him.
It marked the fourth championship clash between the two in just three months, after Rome, Roland Garros, and Wimbledon, yet fate turned cruel this time. Down 0-5, Sinner refused to risk his health ahead of the US Open, bowing out because of illness. Alcaraz, triumphant yet gracious, left a heartfelt message to the camera: “Sorry, Jannik.”
Alcaraz’s message to Sinner after the retirement pic.twitter.com/UzLSTnoQW2
— Olly Tennis (@Olly_Tennis_) August 18, 2025
(More to come…)
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