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World number one Jannik Sinner lifted his third ATP Masters trophy on Monday as he won the Cincinnati Open with a 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 win over Frances Tiafoe. The Italian top seed warmed up well for next week’s US Open, biding her time in a tough first set before breaking the deadlock in the second. Tiafoe was off form after losing the first-set tiebreak but still impressed. The American, who is ranked in the top 20, saved three match points before Sinner secured his 15th career title.
Cincinnati is the fifth trophy for the 23-year-old Italian in 2024, having opened the season by winning the Australian Open in Melbourne.
“I’m happy, it was a very difficult week,” Sinner said. “It was tough mentally but I tried my best.”
“Francis and I were both tired from (Sunday’s) semifinal and the atmosphere was very tense.
“I’m happy that I maintained my level in the crucial moments. I handled the situation well.
“There were a lot of ups and downs, but that’s normal. I played well in the crucial moments of every game.”
Sinner will go into the U.S. Open, which begins on Aug. 26, as a heavy favorite, with a lead of more than 2,000 points over world No. 2 Novak Djokovic.
“I’m confident, but it’s important to recover and be ready for New York,” the Italian said afterwards.
“That’s the main goal for this U.S. Open. I’m happy to be in the position I’m in. I’m eager to keep playing. I hope to show great tennis in New York.”
Against Tiafoe, Sinner hit 29 winners, including 13 aces, and broke the American twice in eight attempts.
“I’m really tired,” Tiafoe told Sinner online after the match.
“I’m not used to playing as many games as you big guys do. Well played.”
The two faced off for nearly an hour in the first set, with the Italian serving 10 consecutive aces in the tiebreak.
A single gap in Tiafoe’s defence was enough to give Sinner two set points, and the top seed took an early lead on the first.
Tiafoe lost serve at the start of the second set as her reserves ran out, and Sinner double-broke with seven deuces in the fifth game, a match that lasted more than 10 minutes.
Despite leading 4-1, the Italian still had to fight hard, with Tiafoe saving three match points to go 5-2 until a set later when the top seed finished the job.
Sinner is the youngest champion here since Andy Murray in 2008.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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