Jannik Sinner is a trophy winner once again, having won his maiden Cincinnati Open title last night against Frances Tiafoe.
The world number one was always expected to run out as the winner against the American, especially when comparing their respective years, but in what has been a revolutionary past few weeks, there was every chance that recent form might carry Frances Tiafoe through.
And, when both stars were holding serve with ease, the first-set tiebreak felt hugely important.
So, when Jannik Sinner was the man to snatch the slender lead, and took advantage to claim that first set, the writing was on the wall.
Both can take great positives after a remarkable week though, with the victor now reacting to his stellar run.
Jannik Sinner reacts to winning Cincinnati Open title
Chatting to Tennis Channel in what was his Championship interview, following a hard-fought run to the title, Sinner was unsurprisingly upbeat whilst speaking to Prakash Amritraj on the desk in Cincinnati.
After all, why wouldn’t he be? The 23-year-old had continued his mesmeric year, which has already consisted of winning the Australian Open and the Miami Masters amongst other titles.
Now, with the US Open just around the corner, he will have big ambitions of adding to his sole Grand Slam title, and was asked if he feels he’s enjoying his top form of the year ahead of a trip to New York.
He replied: ‘Top form? We will see. Winning a Masters event means you play good tennis. I am happy about that. Happy to win the tournament before the US Open.
‘I had a similar feeling before Wimbledon, winning Halle. Now we have a Masters event, it’s a bit different, I had great wins here against Andrey, Sacha and then Frances. Playing some amazing tennis throughout the whole week, then we will see what we can do in New York.’
It’s no surprise that Sinner wants more fast courts after his performance this week.
Could Jannik Sinner now win the US Open?
Well, on the men’s side, there is surely no stronger favourite to go on and win the US Open after his display at the Cincinnati Open.
After all, he was supremely dominant, and won the event having downed some superb players on his way to the title as well.
A hard-fought clash with Andrey Rublev in the quarter-finals threatened a repeat of their meeting in Montreal, and despite falling a set behind, Sinner rallied to a comeback win.
Then clashing with the world number four, and the number three seed Alexander Zverev, this marked the toughest challenge remaining after Carlos Alcaraz had exited early.
A gruelling encounter, which was finely poised as we entered a third-set tiebreak, Sinner came out victorious yet again, setting up a final showdown with the 26-year-old.
Two top-ten triumphs and ending an in-form Tiafoe’s run should spell trouble for anyone who he draws in New York next week…
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
