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World number one Jannik Sinner secured a significant victory at the Cincinnati Open by defeating Frances Tiafoe 7-6(4), 6-2 in the final on Monday, August 19. This win not only marked his fifth title of the year but also positioned him as a top contender for the upcoming US Open in New York.
Sinner, who has been battling a hip issue and recently missed the Paris Olympics due to tonsillitis, showed resilience despite his recent health struggles. The 23-year-old Italian started the match cautiously, struggling with errors and even limping after several points in the tight first set. However, he regained his form during the tiebreak, successfully neutralizing Tiafoe's powerful serve on set point to take the opener.
"It was a very difficult week, tough week. I'm very happy about today's match...It was very tough mentally... We both felt a lot of tension, but I'm very glad about the level I played, especially in the important moments," Sinner said in the on-court interview after the match.
Now, for sure, it's important to recover, to be to be ready for New York," Sinner added.
Tiafoe, who has faced challenges this season, had three break point opportunities in the first set but failed to capitalize. Sinner took advantage of Tiafoe's struggles, breaking his serve early in the second set and extending his lead to 4-1 with a forehand winner up the line. Sinner then sealed the match with an unreturnable serve on match point.
This victory at the Masters 1000 event in Cincinnati is particularly significant for Sinner, as it follows his Grand Slam breakthrough at the Australian Open earlier this year. Sinner's win in Ohio also makes him the youngest champion at the tournament since Andy Murray in 2008.
With the US Open just around the corner, Sinner's performance in Cincinnati sends a clear message to his competitors. Despite recent setbacks, Sinner has proven that he is still the player to beat, and he now shifts his focus to continuing his success on the grand stage in New York.
