Cincinnati | Sinner and Alcaraz have set up Dream Final

Jannik Sinner will be confronted with Carlos Alcaraz in the final of the Cincinnati Masters to continue their fast -growing rivalry in what their fourth meeting will be this season and the 14th meeting of their career.

We increase our level to the top and we bring a very nice tennis to the competition. Carlos Alcaraz

The couple knew their semi-final obstacles with relatively ease, although the Italian world no. 1 celebrated its 24th birthday, was pushed by the French qualifying match in the opening set, before he claimed his place in the last 7-6 (4) 6-2, while the world no. 2 achieved an apparently unwell 6-4 6-3.

(Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty images)

The Alcaraz Zverev collision was expected to be the tighter of the two semi-final and therefore received the evening lock that the Spaniard produced some of his high-quality tennis to take the opening set at which point, German world no. 3, was seen to struggle.

Zverev, who was treated by the physio in his dominant quarterfinals against Ben Shelton on Friday, again called for a medical time-out on 2-1 in the second and on the restart, was really unable to match or offer a suitable opposition, because Alcaraz wipe him past him after a year after one year after a year.

Alexander Zverev congratulates Carlos Alcaraz after their semi -final match

(Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty images)

“It is never easy to play against someone you know it doesn’t feel 100 percent. It is even more difficult if it comes from Sascha, such a great player, such a great person outside the field. We have a really good relationship,” Alcaraz noted after he agrees.

“We started the game really well, played good rallies, a good level of tennis. But then he suddenly started to feel bad. And then I thought of my focus, I thought of how he felt, besides playing on myself and playing good tennis. It was a very difficult situation for me, and I just wish him the very best.”

Up to and including his ninth Master’s 1000 final (7-1) and first on hard courts since he claimed the Indian Wells-Kroon last year, Alcaraz has extended his winning series to 16 games on that prestigious level after successful runs this season in Monte Carlo and Rome.

And now he will be confronted with Sinner in what this time could be another blockbuster of a competition for the prestigious Cincy title.

Earlier in the day, the Italian had finished the dream run of the world No. 136 Terence Atmane, who proved that he had earned his place in the semi -final with a strong first set version against the defending champion and top seeds.

But he did not have the endurance needed to keep up with him in the second, while Sinner triumphed after 86 minutes to book his 28th Tour level final with his 200th victory over the Pro Tour.

“It was a very, very tough challenge,” Sinner admitted after extending his winning run on hardcourts to 26. “Every time you play against someone, it is difficult, but playing against this man in the later stages of a tournament is even harder. The pressure is higher, and you know they earn it to be there … he has incredibly players in his victories.

Térence Atmane (L) and Jannik Sinner hug after Sinner beat the Frenchman

(Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty images)

“I knew that I had to be very careful and my way of thinking was in a good place. I felt that I treated the situations on the field very well. He served incredibly well in the first set. He has a huge potential, and I think we saw that in the tournament.”

For Sinner it will be the final of his eighth master and the second of the season has lost to Alcaraz in Rome on his return to the Tour after an agreed suspension of three months after he was tested positively on drugs last year.

And while he lost to Alcaraz in the French open title, he displaced him a few weeks later in Wimbledon and is currently playing his first tournament since that victory and hopes to close the three-win Gap that the Spaniard has about him while he follows 5-8.

But there is more than that at stake while Sinner Alcaraz follows first in the ‘Pif ATP Live Race to Turin’ with the ‘End of the year’ No. 1 position also in the mix.

“I am really looking forward to playing against him again,” the Spaniard admitted as he hopes to avenge his Wimbledon loss. “We raise our level to the top and we bring a very nice tennis to the competition. I am ready to take on the challenge. I am ready to see the things I did in the last game and try to be better on that side on Monday.”

May the best player win!