Jannik Sinner is one step away from defending his Cincinnati Open crown.
The Italian, who surpassed Roger Federer in a key area after defeating qualifier Terence Atmane in the 2025 Cincinnati Open semi-finals, has set up a mouthwatering clash against Carlos Alcaraz in the final.
Sinner won the Cincinnati Open in 2024, before going on to lift his second Grand Slam title at the US Open.
Photo by Daniel Kopatsch/Getty Images
Sinner’s triumph in Midwest America was his first at the Cincinnati Open since turning professional in 2018. The Italian star first competed at the tournament in 2020, where he was forced to try and qualify for the main-draw stage.
However, Sinner lost in his first-ever match at the Cincinnati Open, to a compatriot of his.
Meet Salvatore Caruso
Over three years before Jannik Sinner won his maiden Grand Slam title at the 2024 Australian Open, the young Italian was plying his trade in the qualification rounds of ATP tournaments.
At the 2020 Cincinnati Open, Sinner found himself up against fellow Italian Salvatore Caruso.
Caruso, who has never made it past the third round of a Grand Slam, defeated Sinner 5-7 6-4 6-2.
The Italian, who idolised Lleyton Hewitt as a youngster, defeated Borna Coric on his way to the Umag Open semi-finals in 2019, while also reaching the French Open quarter-finals in the same year.
Photo by Martin Keep/Getty Images
Caruso, born in Avola, Italy, reached a career-high ranking of 76 in November 2020 after reaching the Italian Open second round and the quarter-finals of the Sofia Open earlier in the season. He also reached the US Open third round in 2020, before losing to Andrey Rublev.
Now aged 32, Caruso has slipped down the rankings. He currently sits at world number 1882, and has not competed in a professional tournament since losing to Jay Clarke at the ITF M25 Santa Margherita di Pula 8Â in September 2024.
Jannik Sinner beat Salvatore Caruso in their only other meeting
Jannik Sinner and Salvatore Caruso have only played twice on the ATP Tour, with the pair winning one match each.
Before Caruso’s comeback win against Sinner in 2020, the pair met at the 2019 Bergamo Challenger tournament in Italy.
The match again went to a final set, with Sinner emerging victorious by a scoreline of 6-2 2-6 6-2.
It would have been difficult to predict the future prospects of Jannik Sinner in 2019. However, he has since exceeded all expectations, and has an opportunity to cement his place as the ATP Tour’s best player when he faces Carlos Alcaraz in the Cincinnati Open final on Monday.