World number one Jannik Sinner secured a hard-fought victory over Alexander Zverev in a thrilling three-set semi-final at the Cincinnati Open, advancing to the final after more than three hours of intense competition. Sinner, the top seed, battled through a hip issue and a rain delay to win 7-6 (11-9), 5-7, 7-6 (7-4), marking his first win against the German after losing their previous four encounters.
Despite physical challenges, the 23-year-old Italian showcased remarkable mental resilience, particularly in the final set where he overcame a 5-4 deficit to force a tie-break. Sinner’s victory sets up a final against American Frances Tiafoe, who defeated Denmark’s Holger Rune in another three-setter. The final is scheduled for Monday at 23:00 BST.
Sinner, already a major champion this year after his Australian Open win, is looking to capture his fifth ATP title of the season and build momentum ahead of the US Open, which begins on 26 August. Reflecting on his performance, Sinner acknowledged the need to improve his physical fitness but expressed pride in his mental toughness. “Sometimes you have to play with gut feeling, and today that was my strength,” he said after the match.
In the other semi-final, Tiafoe came back from a set down to beat Rune 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7-4), setting up a highly anticipated final against Sinner.
