Tennis: Sinner, Sabalenka triumph at Cincinnati Open

World No.1 Jannik Sinner maintained his perfect record in finals this year, beating America’s Frances Tiafoe 7-6 (4), 6-2 to win the Cincinnati Open on Monday night in Ohio.

The title is Sinner’s fifth of the year, making him the only male player to win multiple ATP Masters 1000 events in 2024.

In the women’s event, Aryna Sabalenka won an even more one-sided encounter, dispatching the in-form Jessica Pegula 6-3, 7-5 to claim her sixth career WTA title.

Sinner withstands Tiafoe challenge

Despite the scoreline, Sinner’s win over Tiafoe was anything but straightforward early on.

The American rose to the challenge of facing the world’s best player in the biggest final of his career and held his own across the first set.

Tiafoe even had more opportunities to break than Sinner did, generating three chances across the opening 12 games but failing to capitalise on any.

With the opening set headed to a tiebreaker, Sinner did what he had done all week and raised his level when it matters most.

A stunning return to Tiafoe’s toes gave the Italian a mini break, which he then followed by winning the longest rally of the tournament to grab a decisive lead in the breaker.

With Tiafoe’s spirit dampened by the opening-set loss, Sinner pounced, grabbing a break in the first game of the second set and never looking back.

“I’m very glad about the level I played today especially in the important moments,” Sinner said after the match.

“I’m most proud of how I handled the situation on court.

“It’s been a tough week. Some ups and downs which is normal to have.

“The very important moments in each match… I’m very happy.”

The victory pushes Sinner ahead of Novak Djokovic in the outright betting to win the 2024 US Open.

Top tennis bookmakers now have him at +200, behind only Carlos Alcaraz (+150).

Sabalenka gives Pegula reality check in Cincinnati

Heading into the women’s final in Cincinnati, Pegula was riding a nine-match win streak.

She had become the first woman since Serena Williams in 2013 to make the Canada and Cincinnati finals back-to-back and was vying to be the first in over 50 years to win both in the same year.

Sabalenka came out firing, however, playing the kind of lights-out tennis that Pegula could do little about.

At one stage, the Belarusian had won 35 of 39 points on her serve and hit triple the winners of her opponent.

While there were brief flashes of hope for Pegula — such as Sabalenka’s failure to serve out the match at 5-4 in the second set — it was largely a one-sided match that gives her plenty to think about ahead of the US Open next week.

“It felt like Serena (Williams) today, with the way you were serving there for a little bit,” the American said to Sabalenka after the match.

“I may have wanted Serena instead of Aryna today.”

Sabalenka now edges ahead of Iga Swiatek in the 2024 US Open outright betting.

Bookmaker Bovada has brought her title odds into +275, while Swiatek is at +350.

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