Jannik Sinner beats Frances Tiafoe to win Cincinnati Open title
World number one, Jannik Sinner, has secured his third ATP Masters trophy by defeating Frances Tiafoe in the Cincinnati Open. The Italian top seed triumphed over Tiafoe with a score of 7-6 (7/4), 6-2. This victory marks Sinner's 15th career title and his fifth trophy in 2024 alone. Despite recent health challenges including a hip issue and tonsillitis, which forced him to miss the Paris Olympics, Sinner demonstrated remarkable resilience throughout the tournament.
Sinner's performance and future prospects
Sinner's victory in Cincinnati follows a hard-fought match against Tiafoe, who despite losing the first-set tiebreaker, made a significant impact. The American player saved three match points before Sinner ultimately claimed victory. Reflecting on his performance, Sinner stated, "I'm happy, this was a very difficult week. It was tough mentally but I tried to do my best." He also acknowledged the fatigue both players felt after their semi-finals matches on Sunday.
Sinner's strategy and Tiafoe's resilience
Sinner managed to hit 29 winners against Tiafoe, including 13 aces, and broke the American twice from eight attempts. He also found his rhythm in the tiebreak, countering Tiafoe's powerful serve on set point. The first set lasted nearly an hour with Sinner making 10 aces leading into a tiebreaker. Despite Tiafoe dropping serve to start the second set as his energy began to wane, he showed resilience by saving three match points before Sinner secured victory.
Sinner sets sights on US Open
Following his victory in Cincinnati, Sinner is now preparing for the upcoming US Open, where he is considered a major favorite. He currently stands more than 2,000 points ahead of world number two Novak Djokovic. His triumph at the Masters 1000 event follows his Grand Slam breakthrough at the Australian Open in January and is his first at this tournament in Ohio.
48-5 win-loss record for Sinner in 2024 (ATP Tour)
Earlier this year, the 23-year-old Sinner became the first Italian (male) in history to make the quarter-finals at Wimbledon three times. He is 48-5 in terms of win-loss record on the ATP Tour this season. In terms of the head-to-head record, Sinner is now 4-1 up against Tiafoe. The Italian now aims to enhance his tally even further at the US Open.
