The 14th “Sinka Duel” is about to unfold—who will claim the crown in Cincinnati?

Sinner and Alcaraz are preparing for their fourth meeting in three months as they contest the Cincinnati Masters final. Both rising stars are vying for another significant championship, after facing off in the finals at Rome, the French Open, and Wimbledon earlier this year. With this showdown taking place in Cincinnati just before the US Open, tennis fans around the globe are eagerly anticipating another memorable installment in the ongoing saga of the “Sinka Duel.” The men’s singles final is scheduled to begin at 3:00 a.m. Beijing time on Tuesday.

Sinner

As the defending champion, Sinner has reached his eighth career Masters final without dropping a set, extending his hard-court winning streak to 26 matches. Alcaraz, meanwhile, lost two sets on his way to the final, but considering the rankings of his opponents, his path was arguably tougher: he stopped No. 9 seed Rublev in the quarterfinals and then overcame No. 3 seed Zverev in the semis.

“This is definitely going to be a very, very tough battle. No matter what, it will be a spectacular match,” Sinner said after his semifinal win. “I hope it will be a high-quality contest, which is crucial for both the players and the fans. What surprises will Monday’s final bring? Let’s wait and see.”

Alcaraz is also looking forward to the encounter: “He won our last match, while I won the previous two finals between us. This will be our first hard-court final this year, and I’m really excited for the challenge. Right now, I think Jannik (Sinner) is undoubtedly the best player in the world on hard courts, and maybe on all surfaces, so it’s going to be a fantastic match. I’ll be fully prepared.”

At the Rome Masters in May, which was Sinner’s first event after returning from suspension, he lost to Alcaraz in the final. Then at Roland Garros, Sinner squandered three championship points and suffered his fifth straight defeat to Alcaraz. However, at Wimbledon, the Italian finally broke the streak, capturing his first Wimbledon title and narrowing their head-to-head to 5 wins and 8 losses.

“What makes him so dangerous is that he has no weaknesses,” Alcaraz said of Sinner. “He always maintains his best level and forces you to fight for every single point. From the first ball to the last, he keeps you under constant pressure. His ability to stay focused and consistent throughout is what sets him apart.”

Both players have already secured their spots at this year’s ATP Finals, with Alcaraz currently leading Sinner by 1,540 points in the Race to Turin. This match could prove pivotal in the battle for the year-end No. 1 ranking: if Sinner wins, he’ll close the gap to 1,190 points; if Alcaraz claims his first Cincinnati Masters title, his lead will grow to 1,890 points.

(Translated by Wang Fei, photo by Visual China)