The major contenders bolstered their trophy cabinets ahead of next week's US Open.
©Dylan Buell / Getty Images via AFPThe fourth Grand Slam of 2024 is just around the corner and two leading lights have sent out a signal of intent in Ohio, United States.
Two resurgent Americans in the shape of recent Toronto champion Jessica Pegula and the electrifying Frances Tiafoe presented the strongest challenge, however, in Cincinnati it was all about Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner.
In this form, Sabalenka and Sinner are set for thrilling and extended stay at the US Open.
In the case of Sabalenka, the Australian Open champion lifted her first trophy since Melbourne after fending off Pegula 6-3, 7-5 on Monday.
All week the 26-year-old had dictated play with a ruthless streak. In the final, her blazing serve provided the platform for glory. Sabalenka lost just four points on her own serve in the first set and finished the match with 10 aces.
Over to Pegula to provide a tongue in cheek compliment.
"Funny, Andrew (stadium announcer) said 'Aryna' and I thought he said 'Serena', but it felt like Serena (Williams) today with the way you were serving there," quipped Pegula during trophy presentation. "I may have wanted Serena instead of Aryna today."
Sabalenka – playing at a Serena level – moves back up to world No.2, having emphatically dispatched world No.1 Iga Swiatek 6-3, 6-3 in the Cincinnati semi-finals. Snapping a three-match losing run to Swiatek, halting Pegula's nine-match winning streak, Sabalenka herself totted up 10 from 10 sets to take home the trophy.
Scorching Sabalenka, ferocious from start to finish, now has 15 career titles, a sixth WTA 1000 success at this prestigious level. Over to Flushing Meadows.
"I would say that I'm really playing great tennis," said Sabalenka. "Probably not like the best tennis I can play, but I'm definitely getting there.
"And with every match I play, I feel better, better and better and hopefully at the US Open, I can keep building the level, and I can reach maybe even higher level than I used to play."
A runner-up at US Open 2023 last September, Sabalenka has recalibrated her mental fortitude ahead of another title tilt in the Big Apple.
"I think I was really emotional in Washington and Toronto coming back after injury," added Sabalenka. "I was overreacting, and I just stepped back and realised that I played my great tennis when I was calm and confident, that no matter what's going on the court, I'll be able to keep fighting and keep trying my best no matter what the score, what the situation is.
"I just realised that I have to be that way. There is no other way for me if I want to do well here and New York."
World No.1 Sinner always has a reason to celebrate at the Cincinnati Masters, but we wasn’t only blowing out birthday cake candles on this trip.
On Monday, the Italian - hampered by his persistent right hip injury – still produced pulsating tennis with an abundance of hot shots to down Tiafoe 7-6(4), 6-2.
“It was a very difficult week, tough week, lots of ups and downs. I'm very happy about about today's match,”said Sinner, who prevailed past Andrey Rublev and Alexander Zverev in back-to-back gruelling three-set tussles prior to taking on Tiafoe.
“It was very tough mentally. Had such an amazing run here. We both were quite tired from yesterday. We both felt a lot of tension, but I'm very glad about the level I played today, especially in the important moments.”
A tour-leading five trophies in 2024, Sinner is unbeaten in finals this season and becomes the youngest Cincinnati champion since Andy Murray back in 2008.
Without his A game, Sinner still collected a third Masters 1000 title, still with his right hip issue, Sinner conjured up show-stopping tennis on the run. Over to NYC.
”Now, for sure, it's important to recover, to be to be ready for New York. This is our main goal here for this US swing,” maintained Sinner. “I’m very happy to be in a position where I am and just trying to keep going mentally, having this hunger to keep playing, and hopefully I can show some good tennis also New York.”
The world's best are stateside for the final Grand Slam of the year.
Can Coco Gauff retain her title? Will Novak Djokovic harness his Olympic glory for an unprecedented 25th major with a title defence?
Roland-Garros and Wimbledon winner Carlos Alcaraz will be in the conversation and will be eager to bounce back from an early Cincinnati exit at the hands of Gael Monfils.
World No.1 Iga Swiatek spearheads the women's draw which will include two former champions as wild cards. 2018 and 2020 champion Naomi Osaka and 2019 winner Bianca Andreescu have been allocated a spot.
Dominic Thiem lifted the trophy in 2020 and in his final US Open has also been granted a main draw ticket, as well as 2016 champion Stan Wawrinka.
With a collection of major names like that in the mix, we could be treated to some blockbuster early rounds.
Watch out for the draw on Thursday ahead of main draw action launching on Monday.
ROLAND-GARROS
19 May - 8 June 2025
