Tennis’s most electric rivalry once again met at the game’s apex. The past two weeks in Ohio delivered the usual blend of drama — rain delays, unexpected exits and even a breakout tale courtesy of Térence Atmane, the new French sensation. Yet when all was said and done, the storyline stayed loyal to its characters.
Neither an underdog run nor the power of a hard-court specialist like Zverev could alter the script: the Cincinnati Open final belonged, as many predicted, to world No. 1 Jannik Sinner and world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz.
In our earlier coverage, we suggested that only one true rival could threaten Sinner’s standing as the premier hard-court player on tour: Carlos Alcaraz. Few expected Félix Auger-Aliassime or Térence Atmane to emerge as genuine obstacles to the Italian — and they weren’t. Sinner celebrated his birthday with a semifinal win, booking his place in the final with little difficulty — aside from a tense opening set against Atmane that went to a tiebreak after a 6-6, no-breaks duel. The second set offered fewer thrills: Sinner broke early for a 3-1 lead and never looked back, closing it out 6-2. From there, he could only wait to learn whether his final opponent would be Alcaraz or Zverev.
It is worth noting that Cincinnati unveiled a player revelation unlike any we’d seen this season: a little-known Frenchman, Térence Atmane, nicknamed ‘The Magician’ by his peers. Atmane stormed into the semifinals with wins over Cobolli, Fonseca, Taylor Fritz, and Holger Rune. For the 23-year-old, Cincinnati will be unforgettable — not least because his breakout run secured him a first-ever place inside the Top 100. For Cincinnati fans, his name is now a reason to tune in.
Alcaraz, by contrast, faced what looked like the tougher task: world No. 3 Alexander Zverev. The opening set was competitive, but Alcaraz edged it 6-4 after breaking Zverev’s serve. From there, the match shifted. Hampered physically and forced to call the doctor, Zverev struggled to withstand the Spaniard’s trademark power and versatility, dropping the second set 3-6. With that, Alcaraz advanced, while Zverev stepped aside from yet another hard-court final setting — the stage for a fourth, finals duel between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
Under a packed ‘Lindner Family Tennis Center’ and a clear Ohio sky pushing temperatures close to 30°C, fans gathered for yet another chapter in the saga that has defined the past two years. Yet sport rarely follows a perfect script, especially when health becomes a factor.
Sinner looked far from his best early against Carlos Alcaraz —frequently clutching his stomach and sweating more heavily than usual, was his body ready for a full-throttle duel? The first signs came from his first shots: he missed his first serve, then hit balls to the net and beyond the lines, conceding the first game. Some blamed nerves, others the heat, as his shots lacked balance. Alcaraz, meanwhile, served cleanly and took a 2–0 lead after Sinner’s double fault, with the Italian already expressing discomfort through his facial expression.
At 4–0 down, Sinner barely glanced at his box, as if already aware he would be laying down his towel in the next game. When an elite player isn’t well, every ball feels heavier — and against such an explosive opponent as Alcaraz, that burden can be enough to even break your will. Then, Sinner stopped chasing drop shots, walking away from rallies. It was clear he wouldn’t finish the match. After just 22 minutes, Jannik retired, leaving Alcaraz to become champion —though with a bitter, unsatisfying taste.
While Ohio hoped for another battle, attention now shifts to New York, where the US Open begins on Sunday, August 24. The lingering question remains: will Sinner be fit to compete at the highest level here?
