CNN
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World number one Jannik Sinner mastered the challenge of local hero Frances Tiafoe on Monday and won the men’s Cincinnati Open title.
The Italian admitted he was struggling with fatigue after a tough tournament, but still managed to beat his American opponent in the final in straight sets, 7-6(4), 6-2.
“It was a very difficult week, a tough week. I am very happy about today’s game,” he said after his match.
“It was very tough mentally. I had an incredible run here and tried to do my best today. We were both pretty tired from yesterday. We were both very tense, but I’m very happy with my level today, especially in the important moments.”
Sinner appeared to be hampered at times by a hip injury in Cincinnati, but found a way to secure his fifth title of the season.
He fought his way through tough matches against Andrey Rublev in the quarterfinals and Alexander Zverev in the semifinals, only to then face Tiafoe, who himself came back from a set behind against Holger Rune in the semifinals.
In the final, it was Sinner’s booming groundstrokes that made the difference, as his power and precision were too much for Tiafoe.
After winning the first set tiebreak, the 23-year-old Italian effortlessly won the second set to become the youngest male tournament winner since Andy Murray in 2008.
The victory will give the Italian renewed confidence as he heads to New York for the US Open, where he hopes to win his second major title.
The last Grand Slam of the year begins on Monday.
“I’m very happy to be in the position I’m in and just try to keep going mentally, have that hunger to keep playing and hopefully I can show good tennis in New York as well,” Sinner added.
For Tiafoe, reaching the final of the Cincinnati Open was a sign of an improvement in his form in a season in which he admitted he struggled with his performance.
“I’ve been fighting for a really long time, so a week like this really means a lot to me,” he said after the game.
