Sinner withdraws: "I'm sick." Alcaraz wins in Cincinnati. Paolini loses in the final against Swiatek.

The epilogue you didn't expect. The Cincinnati Masters 1000 final between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz lasted just 23 minutes, with the South Tyrolean retiring 5-0 down to the Spaniard due to illness.

Jasmine Paolini lost the final of the WTA 1000 tournament in Cincinnati to Iga Swiatek. The 29-year-old Tuscan, world No. 9, lost 7-5, 6-4 to the 24-year-old Polish player, ranked third.

The match between the world No. 1 and No. 2 saw the Spaniard win the tournament due to his rival's withdrawal: "I went out on court for the fans, but I can't do it. I feel so bad, I can't move," the South Tyrolean said when announcing his withdrawal. Alcaraz immediately approached his opponent to console him, confirming that despite the rivalry between the two, there is great respect, and then, on camera, he wrote, "Sorry Jannik." The world No. 1 then apologized to the crowd that had come to watch the Cincinnati final. It was clear from the first game that Sinner was struggling: the match got off to a rocky start for the South Tyrolean, who was broken in the first game and then went down 2-0, partly due to a series of unforced errors from the South Tyrolean, who had appeared to be struggling. The Spaniard took advantage, breaking serve again and moving to 3-0. The momentum of the first set was all in the Spaniard's favor, who easily took a 4-0 lead against a constantly overshadowed and physically challenged Sinner. Alcaraz took a 5-0 lead, but the condition of the world number one was a cause for concern, as he decided to retire at the changeover. Alcaraz won, but there was no joy.

"I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I haven't felt well since yesterday," Sinner said at the awards ceremony, greeted by a standing ovation from the crowd. "I hoped to improve, but I got worse. I'm so sorry because many of you had other things to do today. Carlos, congratulations, this isn't the way you wanted, I wish you all the best for the rest of the season. Thank you to my team for pushing me every day. Thank you for your support and for understanding the situation. I'm sorry to disappoint you, but sometimes these situations happen and you have to know how to accept them. It was one of the most exciting tournaments I've ever played. Thank you for the support and to the people who came. Thanks also to the umpires and the people who work behind the scenes. See you next year... hoping to be in better shape." Alcaraz wins his sixth title of the season a week before the US Open.

"I didn't want to win like this, I'm sorry," the Spaniard said. "I understand how you feel right now, I can't say anything you don't know. You're a great champion, and you'll come back even stronger, as you always have. That's what great champions do, and you are. I don't know what to say... I'm continuing with my team. This tournament lasts a long time, the atmosphere is great, I feel good on the court, we work well. And for that I have to thank you, not just for this week's work, but for the work you've always done. Everyone who makes this tournament possible, a great tournament for me, even better this year. We manage to pass the time well between matches, it's been a joy to be part of this tournament this year. The people are wonderful, in every practice, in every match, there's the affection of the crowd, and I appreciate it. Playing in front of you is a pleasure." The fourteenth meeting between Sinner and Alcaraz is won by the Spaniard, who now, on the eve of the US Open, earns some crucial points. in the race for the number 1 position.