By Jannik Sinner, the world No. 1, defeated Frances Tiafoe in straight sets to win the Cincinnati Open, securing a crucial victory ahead of the US Open, the final Grand Slam of the year. The 23-year-old Italian, who recently celebrated his birthday, became Cincinnati’s youngest men’s champion since Andy Murray in 2008.
Sinner, who began the year with his first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, has faced challenges in recent months, including a hip injury and missing the Paris Olympics due to tonsillitis. Despite these setbacks, he found his form in Cincinnati, overcoming Tiafoe with a 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 victory.
Tiafoe missed several key break point opportunities in the first set, allowing Sinner to take control in the tiebreak and then secure an early break in the second set. Sinner continued to dominate, eventually closing out the match after missing three match points on Tiafoe’s serve.
This victory marks Sinner’s third Masters 1000 title and his second this year, following his win at the Miami Open, which propelled him to the top of the world rankings. Sinner expressed his satisfaction with his performance, particularly in the crucial moments, and emphasized the importance of recovery as he prepares for the US Open.
Reflecting on his week in Cincinnati, Sinner acknowledged the mental toughness required and shared his determination to maintain his momentum heading into New York.
