Cincinnati Masters: Sinner survives rough conditions, avenges Montreal loss to Rublev

Jannik Sinner overcame Andrey Rublev in three sets on Saturday in Cincinnati. Sinner awaits either Alexander Zverev or Ben Shelton in the semi-finals.

Jannik Sinner, Cincinnati Open, 2024 © Zuma / Panoramic

Ricky Dimon

August 17, 2024

Cincinnati Open •Quarter-final • completed

See draw

J. SinnervsA. Rublev

In the middle of a point at 4-4 in the second set, Jannik Sinner lost his footing — seemingly blown right over by extreme wind. Nonetheless, Sinner got up, continued a long rally and eventually won it with a forehand winner past Andrey Rublev.

It was a microcosm of the match as a whole.

Sinner was down and close to being out for much of the way on quarter-final Saturday at the Western & Southern Open, but he recovered to prevail 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 at the Lindner Family Tennis Center. The world No 1 avenged his recent Montreal quarter-final loss to Rublev after two hours and 26 minutes.

Remixin' it 🔀

Jannik Sinner defeats Andrey Rublev 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 less than a week after Rublev upset him in Montreal. Sinner faces the winner of Zverev 🆚 Shelton in the semis. #CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/VpVr3Mbbm8
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) August 17, 2024

Sinner was well less than 100 percent because of a hip injury during last week’s setback against Rublev. There were no obvious signs of the same issue this time around, but the top seed played way below his best level — perhaps in part due to the brutal conditions. He found himself one game from defeat when Rublev held at 4-4 in the second despite losing the point in which Sinner fell to the ground. However, Sinner held at 4-5 to stay in the match and took the next two games to force a decider.

It was all Sinner in the third, as he raced to a two-break advantage. Rublev got one of the breaks back but could not strike twice when his opponent served for victory at 5-4.

Sinner will face the winner of the match between German Alexander Zverev, the No 3 seed, and American Ben Shelton, the No 12 seed.

Ahead of Saturday’s victory the Italian beat American qualifier Alex Michelsen (6-4, 7-5) and got a walkover from Australian Jordan Thompson.

Despite the loss, Rublev’s productive hard-court summer continued with wins over China’s Zhizhen Zhang (6-4, 6-3) and American wild card Brandon Nakashima (7-6 (5), 6-1).