It would be easy to say tennis fans will have to start getting used to tournament finals that feature Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. The truth is, we are already used to it. That the Cincinnati Open will be the fourth straight tournament with the final being Alcaraz versus Sinner is not shocking.
The Italian and the Spaniard are making men's tennis into a formality. Other players are on tour, of course, but they are there to get paid a certain amount that doesn't include the money one would get from reaching a final. That has been resolved to the ATP No. 1 and No. 2.
Before the last time they met, which was at Wimbledon, Alcaraz had won the previous five meetings. He was expected to win his sixth straight because, after all, he was the reigning two-time Wimbledon champion, but Sinner coolly dispatched him in four sets in London.
What you need to know about the Cincinnati Open final between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner
This is important because Jannik Sinner is indisputably the best men's player on hard courts currently. Carlos Alcaraz will continue to have the upper hand on clay, and possibly even on grass, but the hardest surface belongs to Sinner.
This is what the Spaniard will have to compete with mentally, just as the Italian had to do the same on grass. One thing we can be sure of is that fans will see elite-level tennis between the two current giants of the sport.
When is the Cincinnati Open and how can you watch?
The Cincinnati Open final is going to be a hot one as it will start at 3 pm ET on Monday, August 18. For a tournament that has already seen players struggle with the heat, the battle between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner might come down to which player is fittest. The temperature is expected to reach 88 degrees Fahrenheit with no chance of rain.
You can catch the action on the Tennis Channel in the United States. Sky UK will show the match in the United Kingdom. beIn will be your go-to for the broadcast in Australia. In Canada, you can watch on TSN. And if you live in the finalist's nations, in Italy you can see Sinner on Sky Italia, and in Spain on Telefonica and Movistar.
Who will win?
Jannik Sinner is the master of hard courts currently. He hasn't lost on the surface since the final of the China Open in early October 2024. The key might be that he lost to Carlos Alcaraz in three sets. The Spaniard will have the confidence heading into the match that he has recently beaten the Italian on every surface except grass.
The pick is that Alcaraz will win in three sets after dropping the first set. He will still trail Sinner by nearly 2,000 points in the ATP rankings, but this could be just another step in the battle for who will finish as year-end No. 1. Something that might not be decided until the last match of the ATP Finals.