The Cincinnati Open is giving the people what they think they want again, the notable Carlos Alcaraz vs Jannik Sinner final which will be their 14th meeting. Carlos leads the head to head series 8-5.
This will be the fourth consecutive final face off between the ATP no. 1 and 2 titans.
Almost everything is in the equation to make this a special event showdown except the two Nike Rolex rivals do not harbor an iota of grudge, tension, bad blood or hostility for each other. They are more like two smiling, automaton robots about to play a live video game.
They will play sensational, spectacular tennis, strike an array of stunning winners, and then at the end they both will smile and embrace at the net.
Patrick McEnroe asked on X about this final “Who ya got?” without offering any insights or color commentary, he too sounds like an expert going through the motions for a match that doesn’t really get his juices going either.
There isn’t much to talk about when these two tennis dynamos play because the matches are predictable, there are no mind games, no subtle sophisticated gamesmanship, no ego flaunting, no tension, which is what all rivalries must have to capture the imagination of the public.
I’m going to skip this one too, you see one Sinner vs Carlos match, you seen them all. I’ll be playing doubles at Overpeck Park.
I’d rather watch this new phenom Terence Atmane practice or see some of the US Open qualifying players train today at the USTA National Tennis Center.
Prediction: It’s Carlos turn to win, to narrow the rankings points gap with Sinner. Carlos is +146 while Sinner is -176. If you catch my drift.
Here is what one fan tweeted to me about the rivalry on X: “It’s the lamest rivalry in tennis history. There’s no teeth to it. Their PR has ruined it. Carlos is too nice and Jannik is stale white bread.”
Carlos Alcaraz · Cincinnati Open · Cincy Tennis · Jannik Sinner
Steve · August 17, 2025 at 9:32 pm
I’m having a hard time tracking the ball due to the light colored paint job in Cincy. They got that bit wrong.
Scoop Malinowski · August 18, 2025 at 8:43 am
Steve, I see the ball fine, the blue and blue pattern is similar to Delray. Sun glare diminishes vision though. Prefer the green blue or green red contrast.