Jannik Sinner will take on Frances Tiafoe in the 2024 Cincinnati Open final, as the two will battle it out for the ATP Masters 1000 title.
The Italian's appearance in the Cincinnati Open final shouldn't be a huge surprise because he is the highest-ranked player on the ATP Tour. Despite struggling in Montreal, it was clear that he would pick up his old level sooner or later.
It took him only one week to find a great level, as his experience in Montreal was solid at best. Sinner missed a few weeks of competition due to tonsilitis before competing in Canada.
Last week was the week when he played himself back into shape, and straight away this week, he's in a final. It was a bumpy ride to the final, as he barely survived another tricky matchup with Andrey Rublev.
He followed that match with a strong win over Alexander Zverev and now will face Tiafoe. This is Tiafoe's biggest final so far in his career. He played in the US Open semi-final, which could be considered a bigger match overall, but this is by far the biggest final he will play.
It came out of nowhere because he wasn't playing well for much of this year. Even in the weeks leading up to this even, Tiafoe hasn't looked spectacular. He made the Citi Open semi-final, which was a positive sign, but few thought he would follow it up with a run to the final in Cincinnati.
It has been an impressive run for him, with some solid wins over good players. He didn't beat players as good as Sinner beat, but he still played well enough to make a final, and with the crowd factor, he can't be counted out.
It's no secret that Sinner is the better player, with far more success in his career. He's also the less streaky player and far more consistent, which will be crucial in this match. They have played four times so far, and while Sinner leads the H2H 3-1, Tiafoe also won one match.
It happened three years ago in Vienna, and it might have been the best tennis the American has played. It was a bizarre week in the Austrian capital because Tiafoe was playing amazing tennis, similar to this week.
It was just one of those weeks where things went super well. That's why this matchup is fascinating, as he's now on home soil with fans backing him. He could technically produce a crazy level to win the trophy.
He's also one of the players who greatly benefit from heavy crowd support. Talent-wise, Sinner is a lot better. He is a better hitter, arguably has a more dangerous serve, and is generally more stable in matches.
| Jannik Sinner | Frances Tiafoe | |
| 3 | H2H | 1 |
| 1 | Rank | 20 |
| 23 | Age | 26 |
| 47-5 | 2024 W/L | 29-18 |
| 237-79 | Career W/L | 206-183 |
As amazing of a story as it would be for Tiafoe to win his first ATP Masters 1000 tournament, it's just impossible to back him against the World No. 1 player in this spot.
The Italian is just too solid, and even when struggling with some physical discomfort, he was able to overcome the likes of Alexander Zverev and Andrey Rublev, which certainly makes him the favorite for this final, apart from many other factors.
Prediction: Jannik Sinner to win in three sets.