Tennis: Sinner Retires From Alcaraz Final With Illness

An emotional Jannik Sinner was forced to retire from the Cincinnati Open final against Carlos Alcaraz with illness, only six days before he begins his US Open title defence.

World number one Sinner was out of sorts from the first point of the highly anticipated showpiece, and trailed 5-0 after 23 minutes.

He sat with ice on his head at the first changeover after going a double break down, and called for the trainer after losing another two games.

After a brief chat, Sinner apologised to the umpire and officials, growing tearful as he told them: “I feel really bad, I feel so sorry for the fans”.

He shared a hug with Alcaraz and walked out to the middle of the court, raising his hands in apology to the crowd before returning to his seat and hiding his head in his towel.

Spnish world number two Alcaraz quickly went over to comfort him, putting an arm around him and speaking to him before writing on the camera lens: “Sorry Jannik”

Sinner told the crowd: “I’m super sorry to disappoint you. From yesterday I didn’t feel great, I thought I would improve but it came up worse.

“I tried to come out, to make it at least a small match, but I couldn’t handle more.

“I am very sorry for all of you. I know that maybe some of you, on a Monday, you had to work, had to do something else, so I’m really sorry.”

It is a first Cincinnati title for Alcaraz and a seventh triumph of the season overall – but as he said afterwards, this is not the way he would have wanted to win.

“I can’t say anything you don’t know already. You will come back even stronger like you always do,” Alcaraz said to Sinner.

“That’s what true champions do and you are one.”

Sinner, Alcaraz and women’s finalist Iga Swiatek are all due to play in the US Open mixed doubles on Tuesday in New York – but it seems unlikely Sinner will now pair up with Katerina Siniakova as planned.

The singles main draw at Flushing Meadows begins on Sunday.

BBC.com