Two champions shared a warm moment as Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek celebrated adding another title to their impressive collections. Both stars traveled together to New York for the 2025 US Open, taking time to thank the Cincinnati fans who supported their successful campaigns at the Lindner Family Tennis Centre.
Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek Board the Flight to New York City Together
On Monday, Aug. 18, Carlos Alcaraz made history by winning the 2025 Cincinnati Open. The 22-year-old lifted his first ATP Masters 1000 trophy after Jannik Sinner was forced to retire from the final.
Just a month earlier, Alcaraz had lost to Sinner in the Wimbledon final, but this time the script flipped entirely. The Spaniard raced ahead 5-0 in the first set when Sinner, struggling with illness and injury, could not continue. With the US Open just days away, Sinner chose to stop playing rather than risk making his condition worse.
Meanwhile, the women’s side saw Iga Swiatek clinch her first Cincinnati title after defeating Jasmine Paolini 7-5, 6-4 in the final. The Polish star’s victory capped off an impressive two-week run in Ohio.
After their wins, Cincinnati Open’s official X account shared a video of them boarding their flight to New York City, in which Alcaraz thanked the crowd: “Hello Cincinnati! I just want to say thank you for the support and for everything.”
Swiatek added her own appreciation: “Yeah, it’s been amazing two weeks, really enjoyed it and finishing it with the trophy, so see you next year!”
See you next year, from the champions 👋 @iga_swiatek x @carlosalcaraz pic.twitter.com/7lRQrrRdSl
— Cincinnati Open (@CincyTennis) August 19, 2025
Following their Cincinnati success, both players are set to begin their US Open campaigns with participation in the mixed doubles event, adding another layer of excitement to their New York appearances.
What Did Alcaraz Say About Jannik Sinner’s Retirement?
Jannik Sinner’s retirement just 23 minutes into the Cincinnati Open final left everyone concerned. The world No. 1, trailing 5-0 in the first set, was forced to stop due to illness and exhaustion in the scorching Ohio heat. The World No. 1 had been feeling unwell since the previous night and hoped his condition would improve by match time, but it only got worse.
Despite winning his first Masters 1000 title, Alcaraz immediately put their rivalry aside to show genuine concern for his opponent’s well-being.
So very sad to see 💔@carlosalcaraz comforts a disappointed Jannik Sinner after the World No. 1 is forced to retire due to illness.@CincyTennis | #CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/RzCZJGVPUT
— ATP Tour (@atptour) August 18, 2025
“This is not the way that I want to win trophies, I just have to say sorry, I can understand how you must feel now. As I said many times, you are a true champion and I am sure from these situations, you are going to come back even stronger, as you always do. That’s what true champions do,” he said.
Sinner later provided an update to fans, promising to return stronger at the US Open. However, his participation in mixed doubles remains uncertain given his recent health concerns.
