Jannik Sinner got one over on tennis rival Frances Tiafoe with a dominant victory in the Cincinnati Open final, after a match that ended with a lot more mutual respect than one of their previous encounters.
Italian star Sinner, 23, who has been struggling with a hip problem, won 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 against 26-year-old American Tiafoe. He won the first set on a tie-break, before the top seed wrapped up his latest trophy in one hour and 37 minutes.
Speaking after the match, Tiafoe said: “I guess I got to congratulate Jannik man. Congrats for everything you’ve been doing… Getting to No. 1 in the world. And pretty much never losing ever. Keep going… all the best in New York. If we play, don’t beat me in New York.”
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It was a long way removed from what happened after their contentious encounter at the 2021 Vienna Open. Sinner was left seething after his defeat to Tiafoe that day, who he felt crossed the line with his on-court shenanigans.
Sinner seemed set for an easy win, leading 3-0 in the second set and serving at 5-3, but Tiafoe’s antics turned the tide. The American started playing up to the crowd, high-fiving spectators, chatting during Sinner’s serve, and generally slowing down the game a move that saw him snatch victory with a 3-6, 7-5, 6-2 comeback.
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After the match, Sinner didn’t mince words about Tiafoe’s behaviour, saying: “In my opinion, today Tiafoe went too far, has done too much. It is one thing when the player tries to put on a show to put on a bit of a show, but it is quite another when you start to disrespect.”
However, Tiafoe shrugged off any criticism, unapologetic about his tactics: “I don’t really feel bad for that,” he said. “Look I mean the crowd is there for a reason. I’m able to interact with them, I’m able to do whatever.”
He added: “I don’t feel bad for that. I think he definitely had a chance to win the match regardless. I used them to get on my side and I started playing great tennis, but ultimately I was just having fun out there and it went my way,” reports the Express.
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Tiafoe later praised the Italian’s inevitable rise to the top. “I mean when I played Jannik in the Next Gen Finals and Antwerp back in 2019 I looked to my guys and I was like this guy is going to be a Grand Slam champion,” he confessed.
“He’s going to be on top of the game for a long time. We get along really well. I have nothing but respect for that guy, how he goes about his process each and every day. Well-coached with [Riccardo] Piatti, super humble guy for how young he is and everything he’s accomplished so far.”
The duo’s rivalry was reignited in Vienna last year, with Sinner, currently world No. 1, clinching a victory of 6-3, 6-4 over Tiafoe, strengthening his head-to-head lead to 3-1. But Sinner cruised to victory in their latest encounter.
(Image: Getty Images)
“It was a very difficult week, tough week. I’m very happy about today’s match,” he said. Sinner is the youngest men’s champion in Cincinnati since Britain’s Andy Murray won the tournament in 2008 at the age of 21.
He added: “It was very tough mentally. Had such an amazing run here, and I tried to do my best today. We both were quite tired from the semi-finals.”
After his triumph in Ohio on Monday, Sinner turns his attention to the US Open – the final Grand Slam of the year – which starts on Monday at Flushing Meadows. “Now, for sure, it’s important to recover, to be ready for New York,” he said.