"If we face each other again in New York, don't beat me!" - Tiafoe attempts to bargain with Sinner on a potential rematch at the US Open

Wednesday, 21 August 2024 at 04:30

Italian tennis superstar Jannik Sinner lifted the Cincinnati Open title on Monday, defeating Frances Tiafoe in the final and prompting the American to jokingly ask for a different outcome should they cross paths at the upcoming US Open.

Sinner looked superb during the tournament, but had a difficult time overcoming Tiafoe in the first set of the final. After prevailing in a close tiebreak, the World No.1 dominated the second set to secure a 7-6(4) 6-2 victory and secure his second ATP Masters 1000 title of the season.

Tiafoe looks ahead to the US Open

Although he was unable to win the biggest title of his career, Tiafoe remained in good spirits after the match. The Maryland native had high praise for Sinner, and acknowledged the World No.1's amazing feats this season. Furthermore, Tiafoe jokingly asked his Italian opponent to spare him another defeat, should they cross paths at the upcoming US Open.

"Thank you Cincinnati for an incredible week," said Tiafoe. "Congratulations to Jannik Sinner, it's fantastic what you've done this season, you're number 1, congratulations to your team. Well done! And I also thank my team: you know how difficult the start of the season was: thank you for being with me.
"If we face each other again in New York, don't beat me! I wish you the best for New York, he said addressing the champion from Melbourne, but really if we were to face each other again at the US Open, don't do what you did today to me."

Arthur Ajayi

Growing up in a household where soccer was king, my earliest memories are filled with chants from packed stadiums and the rhythm of a ball being passed across neighborhood streets. But somewhere along the way, the quiet elegance and raw emotion of tennis pulled me in. What began as a curiosity became a lifelong passion; not just for the sport itself, but for the stories it tells: of grit, of heartbreak, of improbable comebacks and human resilience.

As a tennis writer, I bring the observational lens of someone who didn’t grow up in the sport, but fell in love with it as an outsider; a perspective that lets me see both its technical beauty and its emotional depth. Over the years working with TennisUpToDate, I’ve had the privilege of reaching more than 3.5 million readers worldwide, with one of my features ranking among the site’s top three articles.

With a background in storytelling and a creative mind always searching for meaning beyond the scoreboard, I aim to craft narratives that go deeper than results and rankings. Whether it’s a rising star breaking through or a veteran fighting off Father Time, I try to capture the heartbeat behind the headlines.

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