Carlos Alcaraz Wins Cincinnati Open 2025 After Sinner’s Retirement

The 2025 Cincinnati Open men’s final ended in an unfortunate manner as world No. 1 Jannik Sinner retired due to illness, handing the championship to rival Carlos Alcaraz. The Spanish second seed was leading 5-0 in the first set when Sinner called it quits after just 23 minutes of play, raising significant concerns about his fitness just days before the US Open begins.

The anticlimactic final was a disappointing finish to what was expected to be another classic showdown between the world’s two best players. It marks Alcaraz’s third Masters 1000 title of the season and his first-ever Cincinnati Open crown.

Sinner’s Illness Clouds US Open Preparations

For Jannik Sinner, the sudden retirement was a difficult moment, especially as he was on a 26-match winning streak on hardcourts and attempting to defend his Cincinnati title. He apologized to the crowd, explaining that he had been feeling unwell since the previous day and that his condition had worsened overnight.

“I’m super, super sorry to disappoint you,” Sinner told the fans. “I tried to come out, tried to make it at least a small match, but I couldn’t handle more, so I’m very sorry.”

Sinner’s health is now the primary concern for his team and fans as he heads to New York to defend his US Open singles title. There are also questions about his participation in the newly revamped mixed doubles event.

A Rivalry Defined by Mutual Respect

The abbreviated final denied fans another chapter in the captivating “Sincaraz” rivalry, which has defined the 2025 tennis season. The two have now faced each other in four consecutive finals across different surfaces:

• Rome Masters (Clay): Alcaraz won
• Roland Garros (Clay): Alcaraz won in a five-set thriller
• Wimbledon (Grass): Sinner won
• Cincinnati Open (Hard): Alcaraz won via retirement

Despite the circumstances, Carlos Alcaraz showed immense sportsmanship, expressing sympathy for his opponent during the trophy ceremony. “This is not the way that I want to win trophies,” Alcaraz said. “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 victory extends Alcaraz’s head-to-head record over Sinner to 9-5 and gives him a slight edge in the ATP rankings going into the final Grand Slam of the year.

The premature end to the Cincinnati Open 2025 final serves as a reminder of the physical demands of the sport, and now all attention shifts to New York to see if Sinner can make a full recovery in time for his title defense.