Sinner-Alcaraz to re-play Wimbledon final in Cincinnati

The top two in the world will clash on Monday for the Cincinnati Masters title as Jannik Sinner meets Carlos Alcaraz in their fourth final of the season.

Holder Sinner celebrated turning 24 with a 7-6 (4), 6-2 takedown of inspired qualifier Terence Atmane, with the Frenchman presenting his opponent with a Pokemon card from his Japanese collection before their semi-final.

Second seed Alcaraz, who lost the final here two years ago to Novak Djokovic, profitted as he prevailed over ailing Alexander Zverev, the 2021 winner here, who suffers from diabetes and was suffering in 32 Celsius heat.

While the German did finish the match after a medical time out, he lost the final 12 points of the match and could do little to stop a patchy Alcaraz, who struggled with four double-faults in a single second-set game.

Sinner and Alcaraz have played finals this season in Rome and Roland Garros – both won by the Spaniard – while Sinner triumphed last month at Wimbledon.

Sinner could become the first man since Roger Federer in 2014-2015 to win back-to-back titles in Cincinnati.

Alcaraz owns the ATP-best record of 53 match wins in 2025.

“It was a very, very tough challenge every time you play a new opponent,” Sinner said after beating the hard-hitting Atmane.

“In the later stages of the tournament,the pressure is on, they deserve to be there.”

Alcaraz said he will work to lift his level in time for the quirky Monday final.

“We started well with good rallies, a good level,” Alcaraz said of his semi-final. “All of a sudden he (Zverev) felt bad and I was thinking more about how he was feeling instead of playing good tennis.

“It was tough and I just wish him all the best.”