Jannik Sinner vs Carlos Alcaraz: 2025 Cincinnati Open - Preview & Prediction

It's here again, and the whole world will be watching. Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz will meet again, this time in the final of the 2025 Cincinnati Open.

If you feel like Sinner and Alcaraz have played in every important final recently, you're not going crazy. The two will contest their fourth consecutive big final in events they both played. It will be their second ATP Masters 1000 final in this streak, with the other two being major finals.

To reach the final in Cincinnati, Sinner beat Daniel Elahi Galan, Gabriel Diallo, Adrian Mannarino, Felix Auger-Aliassime, and Terence Atmane, all without losing a set. He even received a gift from one of his opponents.

Alcaraz, on the other hand, lost a set already in his first match against Damir Dzumhur. After that, he beat Hamad Medjedovic and Luca Nardi, before losing another set to Andrey Rublev. The Spaniard then bested a not-fit Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals.

Sinner is the defending champion in Cincinnati, which means he is currently on a nine-match winning streak. Alcaraz, on the other hand, has never won a title in Cincinnati. He played in a memorable final against Novak Djokovic in 2023, even having a championship point in the second set.

Sinner and Alcaraz have already met 13 times in official matches. Apart from that, they played in an exhibition in Saudi Arabia, a match that the Italian player won in three sets. On the other hand, in their first-ever meeting, which was at a Challenger event in Alicante, Alcaraz won in three sets.

Apart from those two matches, Alcaraz leads the H2H 8-5. Early on, the rivalry was very close, with each player winning three of the first six matches, and Sinner even leading 4-3 at one point. However, Alcaraz then won five matches in a row, bringing the H2H to 8-4.

After Sinner won the Wimbledon Championships final, he reduced the deficit to 5-8, but he still trails Alcaraz in the H2H. When it comes to the hard-court matches, Alcaraz leads 5-2, and in finals, it's also the Spaniard who leads, 3-2.

At the same time, the Wimbledon Championships final could have been the one that might turn this rivalry around. Alcaraz was the favorite on the grass courts, but Sinner managed to win in four sets after a subpar performance from his opponent.

Of course, Sinner is the World No. 1 player and the slight favorite in this matchup, but, like almost in any match Alcaraz plays, the match will be on his racket. A lot will depend on whether the Spaniard brings his best level or not.

He can't afford double-faulting three times in a row like he did against Zverev. If he avoids similar dips in his level, Alcaraz should be able to win this match.

Prediction: Carlos Alcaraz to win in three sets.