The Wimbledon champion Jannik Sinner looked troubled from the start and ended up in an early deficit with 0–5 in the first set against Carlos Alcaraz.
On the bench, the Italian then took his hands to his face, before thanking Alcaraz for the match and interrupting the final in Cincinnati Open, after just 23 minutes of play.
I'm really sorry to disappoint you, says Sinner to the audience after the match and continues:
I didn't feel so well yesterday. I thought I would get better overnight but it just got worse. I tried but couldn't make it.
Alcaraz thus took home the title, but chose to hold back on the celebration.
It wasn't like this that I wanted to win. But you are a fantastic player and I'm convinced that you will come back stronger, says Alcaraz in his victory speech.
Next week, this year's last Grand Slam, the US Open, begins.
I hope I'm feeling better then, says Sinner.
