Carlos Alcaraz captured his first Cincinnati Masters 1000 title on Monday after world No. 1 and defending champion Jannik Sinner retired with illness just 23 minutes into the final. The Spaniard was leading 5-0 in the opening set when Sinner, visibly unwell in the 33 °C heat and humidity, informed the umpire he could not continue. The abbreviated victory delivers Alcaraz a record $1.1 million winner’s cheque and his eighth Masters crown, tying him with Andre Agassi for titles won before turning 23 and leaving him behind only Rafael Nadal for youth-era successes. It is the pair’s fourth final since May; Alcaraz has now prevailed in three, with Sinner’s lone win coming at Wimbledon last month. Addressing the 23,000-strong crowd, Sinner apologised for “disappointing everyone” and said he had begun feeling unwell the previous evening. Alcaraz replied that “this is not the way I want to win”, before consoling his rival at courtside. Sinner has since withdrawn from next week’s re-imagined US Open mixed-doubles event, where a $1 million prize is on offer, while both players aim to recover in time for the season’s final Grand Slam.