Carlos Alcaraz continued his blistering run on the ATP Tour with another impressive performance at the Cincinnati Open, powering past Alexander Zverev in straight sets to secure his place in the final. The Spaniard, currently ranked world No. 2, recorded a 6-4, 6-3 win over Zverev to book his seventh consecutive final appearance on the tour.
Alcaraz eases into another final
Alcaraz has been in irresistible form throughout the season, and his dominance was once again on display in Cincinnati. The 21-year-old now looks set for yet another high-profile showdown, this time against world No. 1 Jannik Sinner. The Italian sealed his place in the championship match with a 7-6(7-4), 6-2 victory over Terence Atmane.
This upcoming clash will be the latest chapter in the rapidly growing rivalry between Carlos Alcaraz and Sinner. Remarkably, the two young stars have already faced each other in the finals of the Italian Open, French Open, and Wimbledon this season, with each encounter serving up world-class tennis.
A display of dominance and empathy by Carlos Alcaraz
While Alcaraz looked dominant on court, the Spaniard showed his sportsmanship and compassion after noticing that Alexander Zverev was far from his best physically. Speaking after the match, Alcaraz admitted it was difficult to remain fully focused when he realized his opponent was struggling.
“It’s never easy playing against someone that you know is not feeling 100 per cent,” Carlos Alcaraz said during his post-match interview. “It’s even tougher when it comes from Sascha, such a great player, such a great person off the court. We have a really good relationship.”
He added:
“We started the match really good, playing good rallies, a good level of tennis. But then all of a sudden he started to feel bad. And then my focus, I was thinking about how he’s feeling, besides focusing on myself and playing good tennis. It was a really difficult situation for me and I just wish him all the best.”
Eyes on Cincinnati glory and US Open momentum
Despite the circumstances, Alcaraz maintained his high level to advance, proving once again why he is considered one of the sport’s most complete players. His outstanding ATP Masters 1000 record is only getting stronger, and he will aim to add another prestigious title to his growing collection.
With the US Open just around the corner, Carlos Alcaraz’s current form and confidence make him one of the top contenders to lift the trophy in New York. However, standing in his way is a familiar rival in Sinner, setting up another thrilling showdown between two of tennis’s brightest stars.