Cincinnati Final: Once again, it’s a showdown between Sinner and Alcaraz

World number one Jannik Sinner celebrated his birthday with a 2-0 victory (7-6, 6-2) over Terence Atmane in the semifinals, while Carlos Alcaraz defeated Alexander Zverev 2-0 (6-4, 6-3).

The era of the “Big Three” — Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic — has come to an end, with Federer and Nadal retired and Djokovic still competing but past his prime. Today’s tennis world is dominated by two young stars: Sinner and Alcaraz. Their ongoing rivalry continues to define the battle for supremacy. This Cincinnati Open final marks their fourth meeting in a championship match this year.

Previously, Alcaraz overcame the Italian 4-6, 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 7-6 to win the 2025 Roland Garros title, while Sinner triumphed over the Spanish star 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in the Wimbledon 2025 final.

Since claiming the Wimbledon 2025 title against Alcaraz, Sinner has maintained a dominant form as the current world number one. The Italian has reached his eighth Masters 1000 final without dropping a single set.

Notably, Sinner boasts an impressive 26-match unbeaten streak on hard courts.

Meanwhile, Alcaraz’s road to the Cincinnati 2025 final has been challenging. His opponents on the way to the final included Andrey Rublev (quarterfinals) and Alexander Zverev (semifinals).

With this final appearance, Alcaraz has now reached the championship match in seven consecutive tournaments.

Tennis fans worldwide are eagerly anticipating a fiery contest between these two players with contrasting styles.

The world number one is known for his all-around game, effective serve, consistent baseline play, and mental toughness. In contrast, Alcaraz is famous for producing spectacular shots from difficult positions and for his explosive bursts at critical moments of a match.

Should Alcaraz win, it would be his first Cincinnati title, and he would become the first player since Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray (in 2015) to achieve 54 wins before the US Open.

For Sinner, a successful title defense would make him the first to do so since Roger Federer in 2015. Victory would not only strengthen his position as world number one but also bring him closer to finishing the year atop the ATP rankings.

Carlitos currently leads 2-1 with titles in Rome and Paris, but this is a prime opportunity for the reigning world number one to even their head-to-head record this year, especially as he’s favored on fast hard courts.

Sinner is the defending champion at both the Cincinnati Open and US Open. The Italian must defend 2,500 points across these two major US tournaments and faces considerable pressure.

After the 2025 Cincinnati Open, players will have one week to prepare for the US Open 2025, starting August 24 in New York. Sinner and Alcaraz remain top contenders for the championship.