Jannik Sinner and Cincinnati Masters opponent played for a cumulative five hours to set up their Monday final at the Cincinnati Masters, with the Italian needing three hours-plus to tame Alexander Zverev with a 7-6 (/9), 5-7, 7-6 (4).
Tiafoe took two hours in his 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7/4) defeat of Danish 15th seed Holger Rune, saving a pair of match points and rallying from 5-2 down in the final set before winning in a tiebreaker.
No matter the outcome at the US Open, victory ensures that the Italian will remain atop the rankings after the last Grand Slam of the season in New York.
Tiafoe is the first American man into thelocal final since John Isner in 2013; Sinner won his last title two months ago in Halle on grass but has since suffered with hip problems, illness and the tonsillitis which kept him from the Paris Olympics.
Tiafoe’s win puts him into the ATP top 20, where he joins four other compatriots – a showing not seen since 1997.
“It was crazy, that last set was nuts,” Tiafoe said. “I got lucky with a couple of net cords, which made a huge difference. I battled in the tiebreaker and he got a little tight.
“One thing led to another and here we are. I was not too stressed (down 5-2).. I just put the pressure back on him. You have to make him beat you.”
Sinner battled through a rain interruption which broke the rhythm of his and Zverev’s games.
Sinner won the opening set but hit an overhead into the net to drop the second set and bring on the decider. The world No. 1 Italian profitted from his 5-2 lead and ran out the winner.
“It was a tough match, a very exciting match. We played in different conditions: sunny, rain and then night.
“There was a lot of tension for both of us. I’m very happy with my performance and happy to be in the final.”
Sinner will be playing in his fifth career Masters 1000 final when he takes on Tiafoe.
Main photo:- Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev embrace at the net after semi-final – by ATPTour.com
