World No. 1 Jannik Sinner faced a heartbreaking end to his Cincinnati Open campaign as he was forced to retire just 23 minutes into the men’s singles final against Carlos Alcaraz on Monday, Aug. 18.
Trailing 0-5 in the opening set, the Italian star appeared visibly unwell. The final, scheduled at 3 p.m. local time, coincided with the peak afternoon heat in Cincinnati, a factor that may have contributed to the players’ discomfort.
What Happened During Jannik Sinner’s Short-Lived Cincinnati Final?
Sinner’s condition became apparent from the start. The 24-year-old, who had been on a 12-match winning streak and had won 26 consecutive hard-court matches, appeared fatigued early in the match. He was seen with an ice pack on his head during a break and later told the umpire he could collapse at any moment before retiring from the match.
In an emotional moment on court, Sinner embraced Alcaraz and then raised his arms toward the spectators before retreating to the bench, hiding his face in a towel. The incident raised questions about his form heading into New York.
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
Alcaraz, who claimed his first Cincinnati title and eighth Masters 1000 trophy, showed genuine sportsmanship by offering comfort and encouragement to Sinner. He wrote “Sorry Jannik” on a TV camera lens and expressed his hope for Sinner’s swift recovery on social media.
Carlos Alcaraz signs the camera for Jannik Sinner after he retired from their match in the Cincinnati final:
“Sorry Jannik ☹️” pic.twitter.com/EnGGBFzAYR
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) August 18, 2025
According to a report by Eurosport Italia, Sinner began feeling ill the day before the final, and his condition worsened overnight. The report revealed that he entered the court with a fever of almost 100.4°F, making it impossible for him to perform at his usual high level. The combination of illness and the oppressive Cincinnati heat proved too much for the Italian to overcome, resulting in the swift conclusion of the final.
After the loss, Sinner did not speak to journalists. Instead, he issued a brief statement confirming that he would be ready to compete in the U.S. Open singles tournament starting the following Sunday.
Sinner’s illness also impacted his planned participation in the revamped mixed doubles event at the 2025 US Open, scheduled for Aug. 19. He was scheduled to team up with 10-time women’s doubles Major champion Katerina Siniakova as a wildcard pairing. Their first-round opponents were supposed to be the German-Swiss duo of Alexander Zverev and Belinda Bencic.
However, Sinner withdrew a few hours before the match, and the official tournament schedule listed the local pair of Christian Harrison and Danielle Collins as Zverev and Bencic’s new opponents. The sudden change marked another disruption for Sinner amid a difficult week in Cincinnati.
