CINCINNATI/WASHINGTON, August 19, 2024 (by Michael Dickens)
The margin between victory and defeat was stretched to its limit during the ATP Masters 1000 Cincinnati Open semifinal match between World No. 1 Jannik Sinner and No. 3 seed Alexander Zverev Sunday evening at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio.
The top-seeded Italian and World No. 4 from Germany battled for three hours and seven minutes – in a skirmish that covered 245 points – before an appreciative Center Court crowd that endured a half-hour rain delay in the second set.
By the conclusion of the first men’s semifinal, which ended several hours after World No. 3 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus and World No. 6 Jessica Pegula of the United States won their respective semifinal matches to set up Monday’s women’s final, it was Sinner who raised his arms in victory and became the first Italian man to reach the Cincinnati Open final in the Open Era. He won with both his skill and with his heart, too.
The moment of RELIEF 😮💨@janniksin fought until the end to defeat Zverev 7-6 5-7 7-6 and advance in Cincy!@CincyTennis | #CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/SthiKUUQ9A
— ATP Tour (@atptour) August 19, 2024
Never mind that at times Sinner hobbled about the court with a limp while also favoring a tender hip. He defeated the 2021 Cincinnati champion Zverev, 7-6 (9), 5-7, 7-6 (4), to advance to Monday evening’s title match against No. 27 Frances Tiafoe of the United States. Tiafoe came from behind to beat World No. 16 and 15th seed Holger Rune of Denmark, 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (4), in the second semifinal Sunday night.
“Sometimes you have to play a bit with the gut feeling. And I think this today was, my strength,” Sinner said during his on-court interview. “[There were] some up and downs, which can happen, especially when you play [for] more than three hours. It was a good match, I think, for both of us. He served very, very well, so I can be very proud.”
Job done ✅ #CincyTennis
— Cincinnati Open (@CincyTennis) August 19, 2024
Sinner, who is through to his fifth career ATP Masters 1000 final, produced his second career win over Zverev in six meetings by serving a dozen aces, hitting 37 winners to 22 unforced errors, and converting two of four break points. He outpointed Zverev 124-121. Meanwhile, Zverev countered with 15 aces and 37 winners. However, his 29 unforced errors proved a difference maker.
“It means a lot to me. It’s a very different moment, what I’m going through, so I’m very happy about this result,” said Sinner, who improved his win-loss record to 47-5 as he chases after his fifth title of the season. “The physical aspect, of course, I have to improve, because if I want to win Grand Slams or a bigger title, I have to be, for sure, more in shape. But I just tried to stay there mentally, which I’m very proud [of], and let’s see what’s coming tomorrow.”
Tiafoe reaches first ATP Masters 1000 final
Tiafoe rallied from a 2-5 deficit in the third set of his semifinal against Rune — and saved two match points on serve at 4-5 — before pulling out his comeback victory to advance to his first ATP Masters 1000 final. He’s also the first American since John Isner in 2013 to reach the Cincinnati title match.
“Crazy, crazy. That last set was nuts,” Tiafoe said during his on-court interview. “It got pretty breezy there at the end so we were kind of just playing the percentages. But yeah, I got really lucky there. I had a couple net cords, but I also battled. I competed really hard and put myself in position.”
🌟 The dream is still alive 🌟@FTiafoe takes out Rune with a 4-6 6-1 7-6 win to face Sinner in the #CincyTennis final!@CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/v1Ip4lREMk
— ATP Tour (@atptour) August 19, 2024
Around the Cincinnati Open
• American wild cards Mackenzie McDonald and Alex Michelsen stunned No.1 seeds Marcel Granollers of Spain and Horacio Zeballos of Argentina, 7-6 (8), 7-6 (9), in two hours and 14 minutes to reach Monday’s men’s doubles final.
Dream team 🇺🇸
Wildcards @mackiemacster & Michelsen knock out No.1 seed Granollers/Zeballos 7-6(8) 7-6(9) to reach the final!@CincyTennis | #CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/SYLEovYHg0
— ATP Tour (@atptour) August 18, 2024
The unseeded McDonald and Michelsen outpointed their opponents 88-82 during their semifinal tussle. They will face No. 4 seeds Marcelo Arevalo of El Salvador and Mate Pavic of Croatia, who rallied to defeat Ivan Dodig of Croatia and Jamie Murray of Great Britain, 6-7 (6), 7-6 (3), 10-5, for the title.
Eyes on the prize 👀 🏆 @CheloArevaloATP & Pavic fight past Dodig/Murray 6-7(6) 7-6(3) 10-5 to secure their spot in the final!@CincyTennis | #CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/UEIyv6keC9
— ATP Tour (@atptour) August 18, 2024
Sunday’s Cincinnati Open results
Monday’s Cincinnati Open order of play
By the numbers
Jannik Sinner is the second player to reach multiple ATP Masters 1000 finals this season (Miami, Cincinnati) after Andrey Rublev (Madrid, Montreal). By reaching his fifth tour-level final this season, he ties Casper Ruud.
“Quotable …”
“I said after the first round that I would need to get better to go deep and here I am playing some very, very good tennis. It’s just about the process and I’ve been working hard from the first match.”
— Holger Rune of Denmark, following his quarterfinal win over Jack Draper of Great Britain Saturday night, as quoted by the ATP Tour website.
