ATP Cincinnati, Sinner vs. Alcaraz: Who will gain advantage just before the US Open?
by Tyler Doty
ATP Cincinnati: 4th final of the season
Having both taken a break from the tennis courts after the Wimbledon Grand Slam in mid-July, Sinner and Alcaraz made their comebacks in this American tournament, which we followed on our ATP Cincinnati predictions. And we can say that they made the right choice, as they find themselves facing each other again in this final.
Having already faced each other three times this year in three finals, Carlos Alcaraz has the advantage in terms of number of victories, having won the Rome tournament in just two sets in May, then the French Open in a dramatic five-set final lasting over five hours. Although the Spaniard is having a very good season, he has had much less success on hard courts this year, winning only one title on this surface in Rotterdam in February.
This imbalance against his Italian opponent is likely to be noticeable on this surface. Furthermore, in their last encounter, it was the Italian who dominated their final without breaking a sweat and won the Wimbledon Grand Slam for the first time in his career against the defending champion himself.
Jannik Sinner vs. Carlos Alcaraz: Italian dominance
Jannik Sinner's dominance on grass enabled him to win his second Grand Slam of the season, having already won the Australian Open at the start of the year for the second consecutive year. But his advantage doesn't stop there, as the world number one came to the Cincinnati tournament to defend his title won last year against Frances Tiafoe.
In 2024, Jannik Sinner achieved the double, winning Cincinnati and then the US Open. The Italian will be looking to repeat this feat to add a third Grand Slam title to his season. Our prediction for Jannik Sinner vs. Carlos Alcaraz gives him the advantage in this final.
To put himself in the best possible position to achieve such a feat of winning both tournaments, Jannik Sinner should come into this match determined. Playing in front of the crowd that cheered him on during his victory last year and against a player he is used to not letting up against should allow him to play without doubt in this match.
We should see the Italian give his all to beat Carlos Alcaraz once again and thus equal the number of victories in the final against the Spaniard this season, but also to gain a crucial psychological advantage over him ahead of the upcoming US Open tournament, which will take place from August 24 to September 7.
