The Cincinnati Open finals have now concluded, with Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek lifting the trophies.
Alcaraz won the ATP Masters 1000 title as Jannik Sinner retired early with illness, while Swiatek overcame Jasmine Paolini for the WTA 1000 title.
All four players now head to the US Open for the fourth and final Grand Slam of 2025, although the Cincinnati Open does still remain in the spotlight.
Sinner apologised after the Cincinnati Open final, having taken to the court for just 23 minutes before making the decision to retire.
It helped hand Alcaraz a sixth ATP title of the season, while the world number one is now in a race to be fully fit for the US Open.
Why the Cincinnati Open women’s final time wasn’t changed
There was already upset before their highly anticipated match in Ohio, with fans unhappy with the Cincinnati Open final time of 3pm for the men’s clash.
The women’s final followed at 6pm on Monday, with the WTA and ATP tours deciding the Cincinnati Open finals schedule.
Sinner’s retirement meant a lengthy break in between matches, but the WTA’s Extreme Weather Conditions rule ensured their final would not be brought forward amid the hot conditions.
The rule is as follows:
– Modification of Play Extreme Weather Condition – Modification of Play shall be defined as when the Heat Stress Index (WBGT) meets or exceeds 30.1 degrees Celsius/86.2 degrees Fahrenheit or when the Heat Index (Apparent Temperature) meets or exceeds 34.0 degrees Celsius/93.2 degrees Fahrenheit.
– Suspension of Play Extreme Weather Condition – Suspension of Play shall be defined as when the Heat Stress Index (WBGT) meets or exceeds 32.2 degrees Celsius/90.0 degrees Fahrenheit or when the Heat Index (Apparent Temperature) meets or exceeds 40.1 degrees Celsius/104.2 degrees Fahrenheit.
No such policy is in place on the ATP Tour, with Sinner having really struggled in the 31-degree Celsius heat and humidity of 57%.
A men’s heat rule has been proposed following Arthur Rinderknech’s collapse at the Cincinnati Open, but it remains to be seen if such a change will be implemented.
WTA told to change rule for women’s final after what happened to Jannik Sinner
While there was no hope of adjusting the schedule following Sinner’s withdrawal, journalist Jon Wertheim did have the fans in mind.
He wrote on X: “No shade on the Cincinnati Open (pun intended) but you have to lift the “not before 6pm” provision on women’s final, no?
“If the conditions are so brutal such that supremely conditioned athletes are wilting, you can’t ask fans to hang out for two more hours…”
That would, however, also have impacted the warm-up routines and preparation times of finalists Swiatek and Paolini.
Their match was played out in full, with the Pole defeating the Italian 7-5, 6-4 after one hour and 49 minutes.
Many fans, however, will be aggrieved after the men’s final, although Sinner clearly wasn’t feeling up to the task.
Sinner plans to recover for the US Open in New York, where the world number one will be out to defend his title.
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