Alcaraz (left) congratulates Sinner after the Wimbledon 2025 final in London, England in July. Photo: Reuters

Alcaraz (left) congratulates Sinner after the Wimbledon 2025 final in London, England in July. Photo: Reuters

*Sinner - Alcaraz: 2h Tuesday, 19/8, Hanoi time.

In just three months, Sinner and Alcaraz face each other again, competing for a major title. This rivalry has intensified through finals at the Rome Masters, Roland Garros, and Wimbledon. Alcaraz emerged victorious in the two clay-court tournaments, while Sinner triumphed at the grass-court Grand Slam, narrowing his head-to-head record against his rival to 5-8.

Since Wimbledon, Sinner has maintained his excellent form at the Cincinnati Open. The defending champion hasn't dropped a set en route to his eighth Masters 1000 final. On hard courts, the Italian player is even more confident, boasting a 26-match winning streak.

Alcaraz, meanwhile, dropped two sets on his way to the final. However, his opponents were arguably tougher than Sinner's, based on ATP rankings. In the quarterfinals, Alcaraz defeated ninth seed Andrey Rublev before overcoming third seed Alexander Zverev in the semifinals. This marks Alcaraz's seventh consecutive tournament reaching the final.

"It's going to be a tough but exciting match. This is our first hard-court final this year. I'm eager to embrace the challenge," Alcaraz said. "There's no doubt Sinner is the best player in the world on hard courts, and perhaps on all surfaces right now. But I'm ready for the battle."

Alcaraz retrieves a shot during his match against Rublev on Center Court at the Cincinnati Open, Ohio, USA on 15/8. Photo: Reuters

Alcaraz retrieves a shot during his match against Rublev on Center Court at the Cincinnati Open, Ohio, USA on 15/8. Photo: Reuters

Fans anticipate another dramatic and unpredictable encounter between these players with contrasting styles. Sinner, the world number one, possesses an all-around game with an effective serve, consistent baseline play, and remarkable mental fortitude. Alcaraz, on the other hand, is renowned for his incredible shot-making, even in difficult positions. He's also known for his ability to ignite at various stages of a match, particularly at crucial moments.

If Alcaraz dethrones Sinner, he will claim his first Cincinnati Open title and improve his season record to 54 wins out of 60 matches. The 22-year-old would also become the first player since Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray in 2015 to win at least 54 matches before the US Open.

Conversely, if Sinner defends his title, he'll be the first to do so since Roger Federer in 2015. More importantly, the 24-year-old will maintain his ATP ranking points as he aims to finish the year as world number one.

Vy Anh