Alcaraz to the Cincinnati final against Sinner a month after Wimbledon

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner will play the final of the Masters 1000 in Cincinnati (United States) after the Spaniard's qualification this Saturday , who defeated German Alexander Zverev, with evident physical problems.

Alcaraz, world number 2, defeated Zverev (number 3) 6-4, 6-3 in one hour and 45 minutes after numerous interruptions, first due to an incident in the stands and then due to the German's physical condition.

Alcaraz and Zverev arrived at the Cincinnati semifinal as the two tennis players with the most matches won in 2025: 52 for the Spaniard (53 after today's victory) and 43 for the German.

Zverev, moreover, came into the match dominating the two: of their eleven head-to-head matches, the German had won six to Alcaraz's five. The last match, at last year's ATP Finals, also saw Zverev triumph.

Both players started with a fierce defense of their serves. At 1-2, 0-40, and facing three break points, Alcaraz scored five consecutive points to hold.

At 3-3, the Murcian earned the only break of the set, enough to close out the set 6-4. He did so on serve, after holding three set points, against a Zverev who was beginning to look uncomfortable on the court.

Alcaraz started the second set by breaking Zverev, who was physically exhausted, drenched in sweat, and struggling to stay on his feet, constantly trying to sit down.

In that state, Zverev recovered the break in the next game because Alcaraz committed four double faults. The German also won his next serve, but at 1-2, he had to seek medical attention.

He was heard telling doctors that he felt very dizzy.

The break also gave Alcaraz a chance to reflect on the two games Zverev won, more due to his own mistakes than the German's successes.

Upon returning to the court, Zverev practically gave up, failing to chase Alcaraz's balls and clearly struggling to move.

He managed to add another game on serve to make it 2-3, but then finally threw in the towel and conceded his next two serves to make it 6-3 for Alcaraz.

"Happy for the final, but sad for Sascha. I wish her the best," Alcaraz wrote on camera after the match, practically apologizing for the victory.

Alcaraz will face Italian Jannik Sinner, world number one and reigning champion in Cincinnati, in the final on Monday . The rivalry between the Spaniard and the Italian has become a classic tennis classic in recent times.

The two last played just a month ago, in the Wimbledon final, where the Italian ended a streak of three consecutive final losses against the Murcian.

Before that London date, Alcaraz had beaten him in the finals of Roland Garros, Rome, and Beijing.

Sinner arrived on Monday after defeating Frenchman Terence Atmore, a 7-6(4), 6-2 dream match. Atmore, an unknown number 136 in the rankings, had become the tournament's sensation. EFE