Swiatek downs Paolini to claim maiden Cincinnati Open title as Alcaraz wins after ailing Sinner retires in final

Iga Swiatek filled in a piece of her career tennis puzzle on Monday as she won the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Open for the first time with a 7-5, 6-4 defeat of Jasmine Paolini.

The final lasting for just under two hours featured 16 break-point chances, with the Polish winner converting on six of 10 while Paolini struggled to make the most of her break opportunities.

The six-time Grand Slam singles champion’s 11th career win at the WTA 1000 level has left her within striking distance of the all-time record of 13 titles held by Serena Williams. Swiatek won the Cincinnati without dropping a set.

“It’s always tough in Cincy,” Swiatek told the Tennis Channel after her maiden win in Cincinnati.

“This gives me a boost of confidence. “I’m happy with the work we’ve been doing. (The team) had to convince me to play in a different way. I’m now happy with that process; it all feels even better after the match. I”m glad I finished in straight sets.”

The 24-year-old backed up her breakthrough Wimbledon trophy with the Midwest honours and now heads to the last Grand Slam of the season at the US Open with a major confidence boost after the 24th title of her career.

Swiatek is due to partner Norway’s Casper Ruud in the US Open’s revamped mixed doubles starting on Tuesday.

The Pole said she is relishing that challenge on the slower courts of Flushing Meadows. “I’m a good player. I can play on any surface,” she said.

“They are slowing down the courts every year, kind of,so I’m not sure how it is now there. But tennis is all about adjusting.”

Swiatek also climbed to within 500 points of current WTA number one Aryna Sabalenka, with the lead at the top of the table likely to be in play at the Open when it begins on Sunday.

Swiatek had stalled twice at the last two editions at the semi-final stage and now has only the Canadian tournament where she has not reached the final at a 1000 event.

“Today was tough, we were both tight, but that happens in a final,” Swiatek said. “I was glad to close it out in the end. “Not everything was perfect, but mentally I was there to play my best tennis. We did a lot of mental work. I was really composed and consistent about how I thought about my game.”

Swiatek began on the wrong foot as she lost serve to trail 0-3. But the situation was only temporary as the former number one immediately began her turnaround.

The Pole answered immediately with two breaks of serve and moved to a 5-3 lead

But Paolini earned another break in the 10th game, saving a Swiatek set point to square the final at five-all.

Paolini dropped serve for 5-6, giving her opponent the chance to produce a love game and claim the opener 7-5 after just under an hour on court.

The second set was a roller coaster, with the pair twice swapping breaks of serve before Swiatek salvaged a pair of break points to lead 5-3 and then serving out the winner two games later. Meanwhile, Carlos Alcaraz won the ATP Cincinnati Open title after defending champion Jannik Sinner retired due to illness in the first set.

World number one Sinner came into the final feeling unwell and lost the first seven points of the match before throwing in the towel at 5-0 down in a game played in 30-degree Celsius heat.

Sinner will now focus on recovery with the US Open starting on Sunday. The Italian is due to take part in the US Open’s revamped mixed doubles on Tuesday, but his participation in that draw is now in serious doubt.

“I’m disappointed, I didn’t feel great from yesterday,” Sinner said afterwards. “During the night, I thought I would recover a bit better, but it was not the case.

“I just tried to go out for the fans, trying to give (them) a match - that’s the reason why I went on the court.

“But it was not meant to be for me today. But I don’t want to take anything away from Carlos. He had a great week, great, great tournament again.”

Sinner said he is now pointing to the final Grand Slam of the season.

Agence France-Presse