CINCINNATI/WASHINGTON, August 20, 2024 (by Michael Dickens)
World No. 1 Jannik Sinner of Italy, who turned 23 years-old on Friday, became the youngest Cincinnati Open champion since Andy Murray (at age 21) in 2008 with his convincing 7-6 (4), 6-2 victory over No. 20 Frances Tiafoe of the United States in an hour and 36 minutes Monday evening. By winning, Sinner has now earned three career ATP Masters 1000 titles.
Sinner, who improved to 15-4 in tour-level finals, won his fifth crown of the season after garnering earlier titles at the Australian Open, Rotterdam, ATP Masters 1000 Miami and Halle. He’s the 11th World No. 1 to capture the Cincinnati title in PIF Rankings history (since 1973) and the first player to win multiple ATP Masters 1000 titles this season.
The moment @janniksin claimed his second Masters 1000 title of 2024! @CincyTennis | #CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/6D5WNJqRTK
— ATP Tour (@atptour) August 20, 2024
Throughout his run to winning the Cincinnati championship at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio, Sinner showed plenty of grit and determination and well as heart and skill. He put together victories over Alex Michelsen, Jordan Thompson (by walkover), No. 6 seed Andrey Rublev, No. 3 seed Alexander Zverev and Tiafoe to move to 48-5 on the 2024 season.
After winning back-to-back three-setters against Rublev and Zverev in the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds over the weekend, Sinner went to work against Tiafoe and fired 13 aces, won 85 percent of his first-serve points, hit 29 winners to 24 unforced errors, converted two of eight break points and saved all three break points he faced. He outpointed his 26-year-old American opponent 81-61, winning many points with solid forehands from the baseline.
@janniksin is your 2024 Cincinnati Open CHAMPION @CincyTennis | #CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/fHpUu188Sn
— ATP Tour (@atptour) August 19, 2024
“It was a very difficult week, tough week. I’m very happy about today’s match,” Sinner said during his on-court interview. At times, he limped in between points during his matches and favored a tender hip. “It was very tough mentally. Had such an amazing run here, and I tried to do my best today. We both were quite tired from yesterday. We both felt a lot of tension, but I’m very glad about [the] level I played today, especially in the important moments.”
Sinner added: “It has been a tough week, some ups and downs, which is normal to have. But how I handled the very important moments in each match, I’m very happy.”
Fired up @FTiafoe | @CincyTennis | #CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/Esgl8TDTBc
— ATP Tour (@atptour) August 19, 2024
Tiafoe (24-19), who advanced to the final by stringing together three straight Top-20 triumphs under new coach David Witt, said during the trophy ceremony: “I’ve been struggling for a really long time so to have a week like this really means a lot. You guys know how tough it’s been for me for a while, so to have a week like this is great. … Let’s stay with it.”
By winning the Cincinnati Open title, Sinner extended his lead in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin to 1,440 points over second-place Carlos Alcaraz heading into next week’s US Open.
”Now, for sure, it’s important to recover, to be to be ready for New York,” Sinner said. “This is our main goal here for this U.S. swing. I’m very happy to be in a position where I am and just trying to keep going mentally, having this hunger to keep playing, and hopefully I can show some good tennis also New York.”
Another one to add to the collection @janniksin | @CincyTennis | #CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/4Nny2hYXon
— ATP Tour (@atptour) August 20, 2024
Arevalo and Pavic win their fourth title of season
No. 4 seeds Marcelo Arevalo of El Salvador and Mate Pavic of Croatia won their fourth ATP Tour doubles title of the season with a 6-2, 6-4 win over American wild cards Mackenzie McDonald and Alex Michelsen Monday afternoon.
That winning feeling @CincyTennis | #CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/eOSq19d5F8
— ATP Tour (@atptour) August 19, 2024
The Salvadoran/Croatian duo improved to 40-14 as a team with their 62-minute title victory. They won 78 percent of their first-serve points, faced no break points on their serve and converted three of five break-point chances. Arevalo and Pavic outpointed their opponents 54-41.
Their team debut last January in Hong Kong resulted in a title. Since then, they’ve collected crowns at Geneva and Roland-Garros. Arevalo and Pavic also reached an ATP Masters 1000 final in Rome and semifinals in Monte-Carlo and Montréal.
Headed to next week’s US Open, Arevalo and Pavic are ranked No. 2 on PIF ATP Doubles Team Rankings.
#CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/Z4Eej4sIwM
— Cincinnati Open (@CincyTennis) August 19, 2024
By the numbers
Both Jannik Sinner and Frances Tiafoe were playing in their first Cincinnati final with their previous best results at the event being third round in 2022 for Sinner and third round in 2017 for Tiafoe.
“Quotable …”
“He’s lost like [five] matches all year? He’s the favorite in every match he plays, no question about it. You’ve got to tip your hat to a guy like him.”
— Frances Tiafoe of the United States, during his on-court interview after defeating Holger Rune in Sunday night’s semifinal round, on World No. 1 Jannik Sinner.
