Jannik Sinner’s retirement from the Cincinnati Open final was unexpected to say the least.
Carlos Alcaraz only realised after the third game of the match that something in Sinner’s mannerisms was awry.
Unfortunately for Sinner, he was forced to retire while 0-5 down in the first set, handing Alcaraz his first Cincinnati Open title.
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Not since 2014 has an ATP Masters 1000 final been decided by a retirement.
This particular match was a fierce contest up until the final set, when one of the players was forced to retire due to a back injury.
When Kei Nishikori retired from the 2014 Madrid Open final against Rafael Nadal
In 2014, Rafael Nadal and Kei Nishikori met in the final of the Madrid Open in Spain.
Nishikori, now ranked 88 in the world following a spate of unfortunate injuries, was enjoying a successful period in 2014. The Japanese star cracked the ATP top 10 in May 2014, becoming the first Japanese player to do so.
Meanwhile, Nadal was just under a month away from winning yet another French Open title.
Photo by Europa Press/Europa Press via Getty Images
In the Madrid final, Nishikori took a commanding lead, winning the first set 6-2. The Japanese star then established control in the second set: up a break and leading 4-3.
However, he suffered a back injury while serving, and lost the next six games consecutively before retiring from the match.
Nishikori, who has not won a Masters 1000 title to this day despite reaching four finals, battled his way to the 2014 US Open final, before losing to Marin Cilic.
Nadal empathised with Nishikori in his post-match speech
Following his victory over Nishikori in 2014, the ever-gracious Nadal sympathised with his opponent, while comparing Nishikori’s injury situation to an incident he had endured just a few months previous.
As per the BBC, Nadal said after the match: “I’m sorry for him [Nishikori]. When you suffer something like that, it’s really tough.
“I suffered a similar situation in Australia this year. So I know what I’m talking about and how bitter it is, especially when you’re playing an important match.”
Nadal was referring to his 2014 Australian Open final loss to Stan Wawrinka; a match in which Nadal suffered a back injury.
After the contest, Nishikori said: “I am very disappointed about what happened in this final,” said Nishikori.
“Unfortunately, I was hurting already and I tried to fight but Rafa was too good today, so congratulations to him.”