World number one Jannik Sinner's remarkable 26-match winning streak on hard courts came to an abrupt end on Monday night when illness forced him to withdraw from the Cincinnati Open final after merely five games.
His withdrawal marks a disappointing conclusion to what many anticipated would be another thrilling encounter between tennis's two highest-ranked players.
The defending US Open champion now faces concerns about his fitness ahead of the tournament beginning this Sunday in New York.
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The Italian star, who was trailing 5-0 to Carlos Alcaraz when he retired, expressed deep regret to spectators, telling officials "I feel really bad, I feel so sorry for the fans."
Jannik Sinner was forced to retire with illness against Carlos Alcaraz in the Cincinnati Open final just days before the US Open
|Reuters
His withdrawal marks a disappointing conclusion to what many anticipated would be another thrilling encounter between tennis's two highest-ranked players.
The defending US Open champion now faces concerns about his fitness ahead of the tournament beginning this Sunday in New York.
Throughout the brief 23-minute encounter, Sinner appeared to be in considerable distress, clutching his stomach whilst being broken three times by his Spanish opponent.
"I'm super sorry to disappoint you. From yesterday, I didn't feel great. I thought I would get better during the night but it got worse," Sinner explained to the crowd.
The 24-year-old acknowledged the dedication of supporters who had attended on a Monday, stating: "I tried to come out and make it a small match but I couldn't handle more. I'm very sorry for all of you. I know some of you on Monday have to work or do something else, so I'm really sorry."
The unexpected victory handed Alcaraz his eighth ATP 1000 crown, adding to an already impressive 2025 campaign that has yielded six tournament wins.
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Carlos Alcaraz made sure to console his rival after the retirement
|Reuters
"It's not the way I want to win matches or the trophy," the Spaniard said following his opponent's retirement.
Alcaraz offered words of encouragement to his rival, saying: "I know and understand how you feel right now. I can't say anything you don't know.
"You are a true champion and I'm sure you will come back better, even stronger. You always do and that's what true champions do. Sorry, and come back stronger."
The 22-year-old will next compete in Tuesday's mixed doubles exhibition in New York alongside Britain's Emma Raducanu, with Sinner anticipated to skip the two-day competition.
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Despite the concerning nature of Sinner's withdrawal, former Grand Slam doubles champion Ryan Harrison offered reassurance about the Italian's prospects for defending his US Open crown.
"He will be straight to the doctors. It's not something I would be overly worried about, given that the US Open is two weeks off and you get a day off after each match," Harrison commented during Sky Sports Tennis' broadcast.
Carlos Alcaraz has now won his eighth ATP 1000 title
|Reuters
The pundit suggested that with adequate recovery time this week and the tournament's rest day structure, Sinner should be fully fit by the later rounds, noting: "By the time he recovers this week, gets through the opening match, then in 10 days he will be fully recovered at the latter stages."
The extreme temperatures in Cincinnati had already prompted numerous player withdrawals and health issues throughout the fortnight.