Jannik Sinner achieved victory over Alexander Zverev with a 7-6 (11/9), 5-7, 7-6 (7/4) result on Sunday, setting up a Cincinnati Open final clash with American Francis Tiafoe.
Sinner’s win against Zverev, who had previously beaten him four out of five times, took over three hours and included a rain delay.
During the match, a rain interruption occurred during the first-set tiebreaker, causing a nearly 30-minute delay due to bad weather conditions experienced throughout the event.
Sinner saved two set points from Zverev and managed to win the opener in the third set tiebreaker, overcoming Zverev’s early lead in the second set.
After a tiebreaker in the third set, Sinner emerged victorious, leading 5-2 and securing the win on his second match point.
“It was a tough and exciting match played in varying conditions: sunny, rainy, and then at night,” said the Italian player. “I’m pleased with my performance and excited to be in the final.”
Sinner, who last won a title in Halle two months ago, will compete in a rare Monday final against either Francis Tiafoe or Holger Rune.
“I had to play with instinct, which is my strength,” said the 23-year-old. “There were ups and downs throughout the three-hour match.”
Looking ahead to the US Open, Sinner emphasized the importance of staying fit for bigger matches.
In a dramatic turn of events, Tiafoe, after trailing 5-2 in the final set, won a tiebreaker against Holger Rune with a 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7/4) result.
Tiafoe’s victory will see him entering the top-20 ranking, joining four other Americans in the strongest US showing since 1997.
“It was a crazy match, especially the last set,” said Tiafoe. “I had to stay focused and play strategically to come out on top.”
Even when behind, Tiafoe maintained composure and pressure on his opponent to secure the win.
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