Jannik Sinner Powers Through Chaos to Advance at Cincinnati Open
Jannik Sinner showcased his resilience in a tumultuous match at the ATP and WTA Cincinnati Open, overcoming power failures and distractions to defeat Gabriel Diallo 6-2, 7-6 (8/6) and secure his place in the fourth round.
The defending champion faced a challenging day, with the match interrupted multiple times due to technical issues, including a 75-minute power outage that halted play across the grounds. Sinner, currently ranked No. 1, managed to maintain his focus amidst the chaos, demonstrating his steely determination.
Diallo struggled with his serve, committing eight double faults in the first set and racking up a total of 49 unforced errors. Despite an early break in the second set, Sinner quickly regained his composure, saving a set point in the tiebreaker before sealing the match with an ace.
The match was further complicated when the electronic line-calling system malfunctioned, causing a brief stoppage. With LED screens flickering behind them, both players agreed to continue without the system, relying on the chair umpire to relay decisions from his tablet during the reboot.
As if that wasn’t enough, an alarm blared in the stadium during the second set, prompting another brief suspension of play. Sinner, however, remained unphased, ultimately finishing the match in under two hours for his 23rd consecutive hardcourt victory.
“It was a very difficult day at the office,” Sinner reflected. “You have to find the balance against these big servers. I struggled with that at times today. But I need tough matches like this; I’m happy I got one before the Grand Slam.”
In other matches, fourth-seeded Taylor Fritz fought through a one-hour delay to defeat Lorenzo Sonego 7-6 (7/4), 7-5, marking his 21st win in 25 matches this season. “I can play better, but there has been no time to really train and get ready,” Fritz noted as he looks to fine-tune his game ahead of the US Open.
Frances Tiafoe also advanced, overcoming Ugo Humbert 6-4, 6-4 in 82 minutes, setting up a showdown with Holger Rune, who defeated Alex Michelsen in straight sets.
In the WTA event, top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka endured a grueling three-hour battle against Emma Raducanu, winning 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 7-6 (7/5) to reach the fourth round. The match featured a dramatic eighth game in the final set that extended to 13 deuces, showcasing both players’ tenacity.
Sabalenka celebrated the hard-fought victory, stating, “I’m happy to get through this difficult match. I just hope tomorrow is a day off. I need time to recover from such a great battle.”
Raducanu, the British No. 1, recognized the challenge posed by the world No. 1, saying, “She’s world No. 1 for a reason. We had a three-hour match, and I felt pretty good out there for the most part.”
