Tennis News

ATP statement on Jannik Sinner

We are encouraged that no fault or negligence has been found on Jannik Sinner’s part. We would also like to acknowledge the robustness of the investigation process and independent evaluation of the facts under the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme (TADP), which has allowed him to continue competing. This has been a challenging matter for Jannik and his team, and underscores the need for players and their entourages to take utmost care in the use of products or treatments. Integrity is paramount in our sport.

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Belgrade to host ATP 250 tournament from November 2024

The ATP has announced that an ATP 250 tournament in Belgrade, Serbia, will take place from 3-9 November.

The tournament will be played on indoor hard court at Belgrade Arena, a multi-purpose venue and host of the historic 2010 and 2013 Davis Cup finals.

Djordje Djokovic, Belgrade Open Tournament Director, said: “We are grateful that we got a chance to organise yet another ATP 250 tournament, this time on a hard-court surface. Belgrade has a successful history in hard-court tournaments, as some of the most exciting Davis Cup matches and finals were played here many years ago. We are excited to continue with this tradition and try to make everything even more exciting and better, this time with an ATP tournament.”

The tournament was initially due to be held in Gijon, Spain, but was relocated due to unforeseen operational matters. The relocation will see the event held in Belgrade for an initial two-year period.

All other tournaments on the 2024 ATP Tour calendar remain unchanged at this time and are planned to take place as scheduled.

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All you need to know about the US Open on the BBC

The US Open – the final Grand Slam of the year – begins in New York on Monday – here is all you need to know.

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Tiafoe charges back into Top 20, Mover of Week

The Cincinnati Open provided another week of thrilling ATP Masters 1000 action as Jannik Sinner clinched his tour-leading fifth title of the season. The man he overcame in the championship match, Frances Tiafoe, has surged back into the Top 20 of the PIF ATP Rankings as a result of his run in Ohio, where he became the first American finalist since John Isner in 2013.

ATPTour.com looks at the movers in the PIF ATP Rankings as of Tuesday, 20 August.

No. 20 Frances Tiafoe, +7
Tiafoe’s run to the final at the Cincinnati Open has propelled the 26-year-old back into the Top 20 for the first time since March. The home favourite defeated Top 20 opponents Lorenzo Musetti, Hubert Hurkacz and Holger Rune (against whom he saved two match points) at the Masters 1000 event before falling to World No. 1 Sinner.

No. 13 Ben Shelton, +1 (Career High)
The 21-year-old Shelton strengthened his bid to crack the Top 10 with a run to his maiden Cincinnati quarter-final. The lefty overcame the big-serving threat of Reilly Opelka in his opening round, before also notching wins against Tomas Martin Etcheverry and Fabian Marozsan. Alexander Zverev edged Shelton in three sets in the last eight, but the American has nonetheless risen to a career-high No. 13.

No. 15 Holger Rune, +1
Rune’s inspired run in Cincinnati was ended in heartbreaking fashion by Tiafoe, but the Dane can still reflect on a confidence-building run in Ohio. Rune overcame tricky tests from Matteo Berrettini, Nuno Borges, Gael Monfils and Jack Draper before letting slip two match points in his semi-final defeat. He has risen one spot to No. 15 in the PIF ATP Rankings as he now prepares for the US Open.

No. 25 Jack Draper, +3 (Career High)
Draper’s impressive 2024 season continued in Cincinnati, where he reached his first Masters 1000 quarter-final since 2022 to seal his rise to a career-high World No. 25. The Briton improved his Lexus ATP Head2Head record against Stefanos Tsitsipas to 2-0 with a three-set victory in the second round, while he also defeated Jaume Munar and Felix Auger-Aliassime in deciding sets.

No. 52 Alex Michelsen, +5 (Career High)
Michelsen maintained his reputation as a man who raises his game on home soil by reaching the second round as a qualifier on his Cincinnati debut. The #NextGenATP star, who is currently second in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah, downed Zizou Bergs, Mackenzie McDonald and Tallon Griekspoor at the Lindner Family Tennis Center, before falling in two entertaining sets to World No. 1 Sinner. Michelsen has risen five spots to a career-high World No. 52.

Other Notable Top 100 Movers
No. 32 Jiri Lehecka, +3
No. 34 Tomas Martin Etcheverry, +3
No. 35 Nuno Borges, +4 (Career High)
No. 41 Zhang Zhizhen, +3
No. 59 Roman Safiullin, +7
No. 75 Aleksandar Kovacevic, +4 (Career High)
No. 79 Marton Fucsovics, +5
No. 81 Damir Dzumhur, +19
No. 82 Jaume Munar, +7
No. 100 Laslo Djere, +6

[NEWSLETTER FORM]

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Sinner beats Tiafoe to win Cincinnati Open title

World number one Jannik Sinner beats Frances Tiafoe in straight sets in the Cincinnati Open final for his fifth title of the season.

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Tiafoe flips his 2024 upside down: 'I couldn't be happier'

Nobody likes losing tennis matches. But despite falling to World No. 1 Jannik Sinner in the Cincinnati Open final, Frances Tiafoe was thrilled with his week at the ATP Masters 1000 event.

“Insanely happy for the effort I had all week. Tennis is a funny sport, man. It’s been a really tough year,” Tiafoe said. “Since post-US Open honestly, since I made the quarters there last year, I’ve struggled to put matches together, taking the game for granted, not having much gratitude. [I] changed coaches, [was] trying to just figure myself out. [I am] in a great situation now, and to be able to make a final in a Masters series, a chance to win it, I couldn’t be happier.”

This was the first time the American reached the final of an ATP Masters 1000 event. He defeated plenty of tough opponents, including Paris Olympics bronze medalist and Wimbledon semi-finalist Lorenzo Musetti, and former World No. 4 in the PIF ATP Rankings Holger Rune.

“It doesn’t really shock me or anything that I played tight with the best players in the world. I think I’ve beaten the best players in the world. I’ve played insanely tight matches with the best players in the world,” Tiafoe said. “More [the] thing that stood out to me is beating Musetti, who’s had an insane season, and then backing it up and beating Lehecka and beating Rune in a tough match.”

This was Tiafoe’s second final of the year after making the championship match in Houston. He is now back in the Top 20 in the PIF ATP Rankings after falling from the elite group in March.

“Sucked being outside of Top 20. I’ve been in Top 20 for a couple years now. So yeah, that’s a great sign,” Tiafoe said. “And now I can just kind of keep going and keep pushing and try to get back to where I need to be in the top of the game. I think I’m one of the better players in the world, but definitely wasn’t playing like that for a lot of the year. So happy I am now.”

Tiafoe arrived in Cincinnati with a 19-18 record in 2024. But he was able to find his best tennis to earn the best Masters 1000 result of his career.

“I just think the depth in tennis is a joke right now. I think anybody can clip anybody. If you’re not ready to go, you’re going to get clipped. And it showed for me,” Tiafoe said. “You’re taking the game for granted, you’re not sharp, you know you may have something going on, you’re not fully present, someone will beat you.”

The American pointed to Jiri Lehecka defeating Daniil Medvedev and Carlos Alcaraz falling to Gael Monfils in Cincinnati as examples.

“If you’re not sharp, you’re just going to lose,” Tiafoe said. “It’s a good and bad thing. I think, obviously, you guys want to see the top players play on the weekends. But at the same time, it’s great for the game of tennis. There are so many good players that can win. Fans get to know new, new people, new players. So it’s great.”

Historically this has been the period of the season when Tiafoe shines brightest. Two years ago he advanced to his first major semi-final at the US Open and last year the home favourite made the quarter-finals.

“The ball kind of starts making sense for me in August. I always play really well during this time,” Tiafoe said. “I love playing in America. I love the US Open. So I always want to be at my best going into that time. And if this is any indication of playing great tennis it looks like the US Open’s going to be a good one.”

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Sinner's lights-out serving torpedoes Tiafoe in Cincinnati final

The serve was lights out.

Jannik Sinner defeated Frances Tiafoe 7-6(1), 6-2 in the final of the Cincinnati Open on Friday on the back of his strongest serving display of the tournament.

Tiafoe only won 11 return points for the match, with Sinner holding five of his 10 service games to love. Things might have trended in a different direction if Tiafoe had converted either of the two break points he held in the opening game when Sinner fell behind 15/40. But two return errors later, Sinner was out of an early hole, and his match-winning momentum had clicked into gear.

Tiafoe only won five return points against Sinner’s first serve and six against his second, according to Infosys ATP Stats. On the other side of the net, Sinner won more than triple that amount, with 34 return points won. Fourteen were against first serves, and 20 were against second serves.

The real problem for Tiafoe was simply getting Sinner’s serves back in the court.

First Serve Returns In

• Sinner = 59% (27/46)
• Tiafoe = 33% (11/33)
• Tour Average = 62%

Second Serve Returns In

• Sinner = 89% (32/36)
• Tiafoe = 70% (16/23)
• Tour Average = 82%

Sinner Deuce Court Serve Location
Sinner, the first player to qualify for November’s Nitto ATP Finals, opted for a confusing mix of locations with his first serve in the Deuce court. Ten went out wide, just one at the body, and eight down the T. Sinner won 9/10 out wide and 6/8 down the middle. All second serves were safely directed at the backhand jam location, where he won 9/11. With Sinner hitting his spots, the Italian only fell behind in the point score in two of his 10 service games, while Tiafoe had to play from behind in four of his.

Sinner Ad Court Serve Location
When Sinner needs a point in the Ad court, expect a booming, flat first serve out wide. He directed 10 first serves there, winning every point. The Italian went down the T only four times, winning three. Ten of the 12 second serves were once again at the backhand jam location. Overall, he dropped just two second serve points in the Ad court.

Return Position
Tiafoe, who returned to the Top 20 of the PIF ATP Rankings by reaching the final, hit all 20 of his first-serve returns standing within two metres of the baseline. This was in stark contrast to Sinner, who hit 93 per cent (38/41) of his first serve returns back behind that two-metre mark.

Tiafoe tried to attack Sinner’s second serve with his feet, standing inside the baseline to make contact with 39 per cent (9/21) of his second-serve returns. The other 14 contact points were in close proximity right behind the baseline. Tiafoe was trying to create pressure with his court position but never really delivered that pressure to the other side of the net. Sinner opted to mix his second-serve return contact point, sometimes being one metre inside the baseline, while also turning up more than four metres behind the baseline for eight returns.

This match slipped through Tiafoe’s fingers with the two failed break point opportunities in the opening game. It slid even quicker away from him in the second set as Sinner dialed in his serve locations and rolled to a straight-sets victory.

Sinner now leads Tiafoe 4-1 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series.

Did You Know?
The 2024 Cincinnati Open attracted a record attendance of 205,068, marking the first time the tournament drew more than 200,000 fans as a single-week event.

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Sinner beats Tiafoe to clinch courageous Cincinnati title

Jannik Sinner has shown the world the incredible tennis he is capable of. But it was grit and determination that he relied on to capture the Cincinnati Open title.

After battling through back-to-back three-setters against Andrey Rublev and Alexander Zverev, the No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings surged past home favourite Frances Tiafoe 7-6(4), 6-2 on Monday evening to lift the trophy at the Lindner Family Tennis Center.

“It was a very difficult week, tough week. I’m very happy about about today’s match,” Sinner said in his on-court interview. “It was very tough mentally. Had such an amazing run here, and I tried to do my best today. 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.”

The 23-year-old overcame Tiafoe in one hour and 37 minutes to move to 15-4 in tour-level finals. He now owns an ATP Tour-leading five trophies this season following triumphs in Melbourne, Rotterdam, Miami and Halle, and is the only player to claim two ATP Masters 1000 crowns in 2024.

𝐔𝐍𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐏𝐏𝐀𝐁𝐋𝐄 😤@janniksin is your 2024 Cincinnati Open CHAMPION 🏆@CincyTennis | #CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/fHpUu188Sn

— ATP Tour (@atptour) August 19, 2024

This week was the perfect example of a champion finding a way to win despite not being at his absolute sharpest. The Italian was seemingly hampered by his hip, at times favouring it and limping between points.

But when Sinner needed to, he produced jaw-dropping ball-striking to knock down every challenge in front of him. He played a tie-break fitting of his top seed to take the lead against a resurgent Tiafoe, who also persevered to reach the final, saving two match points in his semi-final against Holger Rune.

From there, the American had no answer for Sinner’s baseline play. Tiafoe missed a forehand long in the first game of the second set to relinquish the first service break of the match, and he was never able to regain touch with his opponent.

“It has been a tough week, some ups and downs, which is normal to have,” Sinner said. “But how I handled the very important moments in each match, I’m very happy.”

As the match wore on, Sinner grew increasingly confident and laced multiple forehand winners down the line on the run. It seemed everything he touched on that wing turned to gold on centre court. The harder he swung, the more the ball landed in.

The Italian made clear the focal point of his season was the Paris Olympics, from which he withdrew due to tonsillitis. Then when he lost in the Montreal quarter-finals to Andrey Rublev and his hip acted up, it was unclear how quickly the season’s first Nitto ATP Finals qualifier would bounce back.

But after rallying from a set down to Rublev in the quarter-finals and finding a way past Zverev to avoid a fifth consecutive Lexus ATP Head2Head loss to the German, Sinner found his stride.

The World No. 1 survived and then thrived to become the youngest Cincinnati champion since Andy Murray emerged victorious in Ohio as a 21-year-old in 2008. Sinner also extended his lead in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin to 1,440 points over second-placed Carlos Alcaraz.

Instead of arriving at the US Open wondering about his form, Sinner will now take confidence knowing he persevered in Cincinnati without his very best game to claim his third Masters 1000 title.

”Now, for sure, it’s important to recover, to be to be ready for New York. This is our main goal here for this U.S. swing,” Sinner said. “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.”

Tiafoe began the week with a 19-18 record for his season. But under the tutelage of new coach David Witt, the American thrilled his home crowd and defeated three Top 20 players en route to his maiden Masters 1000 final.

“I’ve been struggling for a really long time so to have a week like this really means a lot,” Tiafoe said to his team during the trophy ceremony. “You guys know how tough it’s been for me for a while, so to have a week like this is great… Let’s stay with it.”

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Sinner surges in battle for year-end No. 1, but Alcaraz within striking distance

Jannik Sinner has taken a sizable lead in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin by winning the Cincinnati Open, but the battle for ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF honours is far from over.

The 23-year-old is in pole position for the accolade with just three months remaining in the season. But with this year’s Roland Garros and Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz 1,440 points behind the Italian, there is still plenty to play for with the US Open coming up next week.

PIF ATP Live Race To Turin

Sinner, who became the first player from his country to reach World No. 1 earlier this year, has given himself a cushion in the Live Race. If he reaches the semi-finals in New York, he will remain in first place regardless of any other player’s performance at the season’s final major.

What the Italian has done by winning Cincinnati has put pressure on Alcaraz and third-placed Alexander Zverev, who is 245 points behind him, to make a huge run at Flushing Meadows in an attempt to close the gap.

Alcaraz and Zverev are the only players who could pass Sinner in the Live Race by the end of the US Open. Both men would need to capture the trophy to have a chance of doing so.

Entering the Cincinnati Open, Sinner was just 450 points ahead of Alcaraz, making the margins razor thin. But because Alcaraz lost in the second round at the Lindner Family Tennis Center, he only earned 10 points to Sinner’s 1,000 for lifting the trophy. Instead of the Spaniard leaving Cincinnati in first, which was possible, Sinner is now 1,440 points ahead of him.

As quickly as the momentum shifted in Ohio, it can do the same in New York, where the champion will earn 2,000 points.

Alex de Minaur, who has not competed since Wimbledon due to a hip injury, holds the eighth and final qualifying spot with 2,905 points. The Australian is trying to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals for the first time. Ninth-placed Stefanos Tsitsipas, the 2019 Nitto ATP Finals champion, is just 180 points behind (2,725).

Paris Olympics gold medalist Novak Djokovic is seventh in the Live Race, 4,240 points behind first-placed Sinner. The Serbian is in good position to qualify for the year-end championships for the 17th time.

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Sabalenka wins first title since Australian Open

Aryna Sabalenka wins her first title since January’s Australian Open by powering past Jessica Pegula in the final of the Cincinnati Open.

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