• Carlos Alcaraz wins the Cincinnati Open after Jannik Sinner retires due to illness.
• Sinner was competing to defend his title but exited in the first set.
• Iga Swiatek also claimed her first Cincinnati Open title against Jasmine Paolini.
• Alcaraz’s victory extends his head-to-head lead over Sinner to 9–5.
• Concerns arise about Sinner’s fitness ahead of the US Open starting soon.

Carlos Alcaraz won the Cincinnati Open as top seed Jannik Sinner retired from the final due to illness, prompting concerns regarding Sinner's fitness just days prior to the commencement of the US Open. Alcaraz, the Spanish second seed, ended Sinner's 26-match winning streak on hardcourts when Sinner, trailing 5-0 in the first set, signaled he could no longer continue after just 23 minutes of play. "This is not the way that I want to win trophies, I just have to say sorry," Alcaraz remarked during the ceremony, expressing his admiration for Sinner's resilience, according to Reuters, Dawn, and Al Jazeera.

During the presentation, Alcaraz praised Sinner, stating, "I am sure from these situations, you are going to come back even stronger, as you always do," reflecting the respect between the two players. This event was particularly significant as Sinner aimed to become the first man since Roger Federer in 2015 to win consecutive Cincinnati titles, making his early retirement a notable moment. Sinner expressed his disappointment, stating, "I’m super, super sorry to disappoint you," emphasizing his struggle with health issues prior to the match, according to Reuters and Dawn.

Additionally, uncertainty surrounds Sinner's ability to participate in the mixed doubles event with Katerina Siniakova at the upcoming US Open, scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday. With singles competition set to kick off on Sunday, his readiness remains unclear. Monday’s final was expected to serve as a precursor to a potential showdown at the US Open, reflecting their intensity-filled matchups in earlier Grand Slam finals, according to Dawn and Al Jazeera.

Moreover, in the women's draw, Iga Swiatek claimed her first Cincinnati Open title by defeating Jasmine Paolini 7-5, 6-4. Swiatek's victory came without dropping a set throughout the tournament, illustrating her strong form leading into the US Open. "I’m shocked and super happy," Swiatek remarked, highlighting her success in consistently converting break points. This win secures her climb back to the world number two position, solidifying her status just ahead of the year’s final Grand Slam event, according to Dawn.