Sinner Outlasts Rublev To Reach Cincinnati Open Semifinals

Jannik Sinner, Cincinnati Open
Jannik Sinner (photo: Kathryn Riley/Cincinnati Open)

CINCINNATI/WASHINGTON, August 18, 2024 (by Michael Dickens)

Jannik Sinner reached his ninth career ATP Masters 1000 semifinal – and first at the Cincinnati Open – Saturday afternoon. But it was anything but easy.

In overcoming blustery conditions and a fast stadium court at the Lindner Family Tennis Center, the top-seeded Sinner gained revenge on his opponent, No. 6 seed Andrey Rublev, to win 4-6, 7-5, 6-4, in two hours and 26 minutes. Sinner secured the win in his first match-point opportunity and became the first Italian man to advance to the Cincinnati Open semifinals.

Last week, the World No. 1 Sinner of Italy fell to the Russian in a three-set quarterfinal match in Montreal. However, this time in Mason, Ohio, Sinner dug in and saved a pair of break points on serve at 3-4 in the second set, then got stronger as the match wore on into a decider. He served out the quarterfinal victory on his second try to beat Rublev for the sixth time in nine career meetings.

The newly-turned 23-year-old Sinner, playing in his sixth ATP Masters 1000 quarterfinal of the season, hit 10 aces, struck 32 winners overall, and won 84 percent of his first-serve points. He converted six of 16 break points and outpointed Rublev 111-101 in achieving his 26th hard-court victory of the season.

As Sinner remains alive in his quest for a third ATP Masters 1000 crown – and first title overall since winning at Halle on grass in June – he will take a 46-5 win-loss record on the season into Sunday’s semifinal round against No. 3 seed Alexander Zverev of Germany, who defeated No. 12 seed Ben Shelton of the United States, 3-6, 7-6 (3), 7-5, in two hours and 29 minutes.

Sinner, who has already qualified for the year-end Nitto ATP Finals in Turin, Italy, has scored wins this week over American Alex Michelsen,  Jordan Thompson of Australia (via walkover) and Rublev in his final tune-up for the US Open.

“It took a lot of mental strength today,” Sinner said, in his post-match on-court interview. He overcame 28 unforced errors, thanks to the windy conditions. “It was very tough conditions, very windy. In the first set he started very well and I didn’t play my best tennis but in the second set, I felt I had a lot of chances. I waited for my chance. I am very happy to make the semis.”

Later, in an interview with Tennis Channel, Sinner added: “I feel like in the third set I raised my level, struggled a little bit to close it out, but I’m very happy about the performance.”

Zverev overcomes rain, Shelton to advance against Sinner

Meanwhile, Zverev, the 2021 titlist, persevered through multiple rain delays in the final set to win his Tour-leading 52nd match of the season and reach his third straight Cincinnati Open semifinal.

After missing his first seven break point opportunities against Shelton, Zverev finally broke the young American lefty at 5-all to go ahead. Then, after he double-faulted twice in the deciding game and faced a break point, Zverev closed out his quarterfinal win by garnering the last three points of the match. It was his 22nd straight victory over a left-handed opponent going back to Roland-Garros in 2023.

Zverev, who outpointed Shelton 103-95, will take a 4-1 career head-to-head into Sunday’s semifinal-round match against Sinner.

Around the Cincinnati Open

• American Frances Tiafoe, won by injury retirement over fifth seed Hubert Hurkacz of Poland, after taking the first set 6-3 in 46 minutes on the Grandstand. It was his 200th career Tour-level win. On Friday, the 27th-ranked Tiafoe prevailed over Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic, 6-4, 6-7 (10), 7-6 (5), winning on his sixth match point.

• World No. 16 Holger Rune of Denmark advanced to the Cincinnati quarterfinals after defeating Gaël Monfils of a France, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, Friday night. The 15th seed Rune became the first Danish man to reach the last eight in the tournament’s Open history.

“It took some patience for sure,” Rune said, quoted by the ATP Tour website. “I wasn’t totally on top of the first set. He was serving big, had to get used to the conditions a little bit. He came from an incredible win earlier, so obviously he was very confident. I had to find my rhythm.”

Rune’s win advanced him to face 28th-ranked British lefty Jack Draper, who reached his second ATP Masters 1000 quarterfinal and first in two years after defeating No. 19 Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4. It was Draper’s third consecutive three-set victory.

In just 76 minutes, Rune eliminated Draper, 6-4, 6-2, late Saturday to set  up a semifinal meeting against Tiafoe. Rune saved all three break points he faced and broke Draper three times in three opportunities. He finished with 17 winners and made just nine unforced errors.

• Doubles No. 1 seeds Marcel Granollers of Spain and Horacio Zeballos of Argentina defeated unseeded Neal Skupski of Great Britain and Michael Venus of New Zealand, 6-4, 6-4, for their seventh straight win. Last week, Granollers and Zeballos, who captured  the 2021 Cincinnati title, won the Montreal crown last week.

• In a rare show of frustration on the court, World No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz of Spain repeatedly smashed his tennis racquet after the four-time major champion lost to France’s Gaël Monfils, 4-6, 7-5 (5), 6-4, Friday afternoon.

In a match that was suspended by rain Thursday night in a second-set tie-break, No. 46 advanced after winning the final two sets. Afterward, Alcaraz called the loss his “worst match.” He added: “I felt like it was the worst match I’ve ever played in my career. I’ve been practicing really well. I was feeling great. But I couldn’t play. I want to forget it and move on to New York.”

The U.S. Open begins a week from Monday on Aug. 26.

Saturday’s Cincinnati Open results

Sunday’s Cincinnati Open order of play

By the numbers

An American male has not won the Cincinnati Open title since Andy Roddick in 2006. Only one American, Frances Tiafoe, remains in the men’s draw.

“Quotable …”

“I went on court trying to change a couple of things, but with this wind it was very difficult to find a good balance. I went in with a certain game plan but it had to change very fast. … This week, I’m not where I want to be but, in my mind, I’m happy with my fight, my mental strength. Positive things are happening.”

— Top seed Jannik Sinner of Italy, during a post-match interview with Tennis Channel on Saturday.

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