Jannik Sinner’s hard-court run meets a snag as illness forced him to withdraw from his Cincinnati Masters match, handing a walkover to Carlos Alcaraz after the Italian trailed 0-5 in the first set. The setback ended a 26-match hard-court winning streak that stretched back to last year’s Shanghai Masters, underscoring how quickly momentum can shift in a sport where fitness and form are everything.
Sinner has already claimed three hard-court Grand Slam titles—two at the Australian Open and one at the US Open—placing him among the elite on the surface. Yet Novak Djokovic remains the hard-court king, with 14 hard-court majors to his name (10 Australian Opens and four US Opens), a record that continues to loom large as the season moves toward the US Open.
The Cincinnati result came as a surprising pause in what has been a prolific run for Sinner this year. In related discussion after the match, Jack Sock spoke on the Nothing Major podcast about Sinner’s potential to eclipse Djokovic on the hard courts, noting his constant presence in finals and his growing streak of wins. “I don’t think we would be surprised, honestly. … If it’s not Sinner and Alcaraz in the final, it’s a surprising tournament,” Sock said, adding that a 26-match hard-court winning streak is a sign of dominance.
The rivalry on court hasn’t cooled à la carte in singles either. Earlier this season, Sinner stopped Djokovic from reaching the finals of two Grand Slam events—French Open and Wimbledon—beats that have helped the Italian close the head-to-head gap to 6-4 in their series, a development Sock referenced when praising Sinner’s current form and potential.
Meanwhile, illness also impacted Djokovic off the court. He was unable to participate in the US Open mixed doubles, where he was set to partner Katerina Siniakova, though he did play his singles match, partnering with Olga Danilovic. The pair lost their opening mixed doubles encounter to the Russian duo of Daniil Medvedev and Mirra Andreeva.
Djokovic, chasing what would be his historic 25th Grand Slam title, has seen his Major breakthroughs narrow since last year’s Wimbledon final loss to Alcaraz, with a single major final appearance since then. The men’s tour now pivots toward the US Open, where the main draw begins on August 24, giving Sinner a window to recover and re-assert his title defense on home soil.
What to watch for
– Sinner’s health and recovery ahead of the US Open, with the tournament offering a crucial chance to reclaim momentum on hard courts.
– Djokovic’s continued pursuit of more majors and how his schedule will shape the late-season swing, especially if illness or fatigue returns.
– The evolving head-to-head dynamic between Sinner and Djokovic as both players chase further Grand Slam milestones on hard courts.
Summary: The Cincinnati setback for Sinner is a reminder of how quickly a breakthrough can be paused by illness, even as his hard-court dominance continues to draw attention. With the US Open approaching, all eyes will be on how Sinner bounces back and whether he can add to his hard-court Majors while Djokovic remains the benchmark for success on the surface.
Positive note: The setback also serves as a potential springboard for Sinner—demonstrating resilience, depth in the field, and the enduring narrative of a rising rival aiming to redefine hard-court greatness.