Carlos Alcaraz claimed his first Cincinnati Open title on Monday, when World No. 1 Jannik Sinner retired in the first set of the final at the Lindner Family Tennis Centre.
Billed as the latest chapter in the sport’s biggest rivalry, it ended in disappointment as Sinner threw in the towel when down 0-5 after just 22 minutes.
What was meant to be a Wimbledon final rematch and the clash most expected when the draw came out never truly materialised.
The end result is sadly another bloated 14-day Masters 1000 ending as a bit of a damp squib, made worse by the fact that the final was played on a Monday.
Day Twelve Cincinnati Open 2025 Final Result
| Winner | Loser | Scoreline |
|---|---|---|
| Carlos Alcaraz (2) | Jannik Sinner (1) | 5-0 RET |
Match Stats
| Jannik Sinner | Carlos Alcaraz | |
|---|---|---|
| Winners | 4 | 2 |
| Unforced Errors | 9 | 1 |
| Aces | 1 | 1 |
| Double Faults | 2 | 0 |
| 1st Serve % | 56% (9/16) | 46% (6/13) |
| 1st Serve Points Won | 44% (4/9) | 83% (5/6) |
| 2nd Serve Points Won | 0% (0/8) | 57% (4/7) |
| Break Points Saved | 50% (3/6) | (0/0) |
| Service Games | 0% (0/3) | 100% (2/2) |
| 1st Return Points Won | 17% (1/6) | 56% (5/9) |
| 2nd Return Points Won | 43% (3/7) | 100% (8/8) |
| Break Points Won | (0/0) | 50% (3/6) |
| Return Games | 0% (0/2) | 100% (3/3) |
| Pressure Points | 50% (3/6) | 50% (3/6) |
| Service Points | 25% (4/16) | 69% (9/13) |
| Return Points | 31% (4/13) | 75% (12/16) |
| Net Points | 0% (0/1) | (0/0) |
| Total Ponts | 28% (8/29) | 72% (21/29) |
| Match Points Saved | 0 | 0 |
| Max Points In A Row | 2 | 6 |
| Total Games | 0% (0/5) | 100% (5/5) |
| Max Games In A Row | 0 | 5 |
Highlights
Thoughts on the Final
Not much to report here as the final never really started. From the very first ball, it was clear Sinner wasn’t feeling right, and his game plan was to basically slap the ball and hope for the best.
Alcaraz broke to love in the first game, and although Sinner made deuce in his first return game, he only won 5 more points in the next three games before throwing in the towel.
Personally, I’d have liked to see him finish the match, as I subscribe to the Roger Federer school of thought that any time you step on the court, you are signalling you are ready to play, hence why he played 1526 professional matches and never retired from a single one.
We also saw Zverev struggling with some sort of illness during his semi-final with Alcaraz on Saturday, but he managed to stick it out until the final point.
Alcaraz’s win means he’s now got 22 career titles and has ended Sinner’s 26-match winning streak on hard courts, and despite the unpreferred means of winning, he leaves Cincy a worthy champion, as the final he lost in 2023 was one of the best matches we have seen in recent years.
Both guys are scheduled to play the US Open mixed doubles event, with Sinner partnering Katerina Siniakova on Tuesday, but this is now in doubt.
Usually, I start with the opponent, but today I have to start with you guys. I’m super, super sorry to disappoint you. Since yesterday, I haven’t felt great. I thought I would improve during the night. It came up worse. I tried to come out and make it at least a small match, but I couldn’t handle more. I’m very, very sorry for all of you. I know some of you might have had to work or do something else on Monday, and I’m very, very sorry. Of course, Carlos, congrats. Another title. Not the way you wanted to win, but it’s amazing what kind of season you’re producing. You and your whole team are doing an amazing job. Keep it up. I wish you all the best for the U.S. Open and the rest of the season. Sinner in his runners up speech.
