Sinner downs Zverev to reach Cincinnati Open final

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Sinner downs Zverev to reach Cincinnati Open final

World No.1 Jannik Sinner has overcome apparent hip soreness to beat Alexander Zverev 7-6 (11-9) 5-7 7-6 (7-4) and reach the Cincinnati Open final as the US Open looms.

*********** Open champion Sinner leads the ATP Tour with four titles this season but he limped at times in Sunday’s semi-final and favoured his hip, which has plagued him recently.

However the Italian produced some great shotmaking and converted two of his four break-point chances to get by 2021 Cincinnati champion Zverev in three hours seven minutes on Sunday.

The ******* had beaten Sinner in their previous four meetings but Sinner stamped his mark on this match ahead of the US Open starting later this month.

“Sometimes you have to play a bit with the gut feeling. And I think this today was, my strength,” Sinner said in his on-court interview.

“Some up and downs, which can happen, especially when you play more than three hours. It was a good match, I think for both of us. He served very, very well, so I can be very proud.

“The physical aspect, of course, I have to improve, because if I want to win grand slams or a ******* title, I have to be, for sure, more in shape. But I just tried to stay there mentally, which I’m very proud, and let’s see what’s coming tomorrow.”

Zverev will next face either Danish 15th seed Holger Rune or Frances Tiafoe, who is looking to become the first ********* finalist in Cincinnati since John Isner in 2013.

Zverev was three points away from serving out the opener but Sinner broke to level the proceedings at 5-5 before they headed to a rain-interrupted tiebreak where the Italian secured the frame on his third set point with a backhand volley.

The players exchanged early breaks in the second set but ******* world number four Zverev used a hold at love to go 6-5 up and then levelled the match in the next game when Sinner sent a forehand smash into the net.

Neither player faced a break point in a tightly contested decider that required a tiebreak where Sinner took control, dropping just one point on his serve and sealing the match when Zverev sent a backhand long.

– with AAP

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