Rain delays, tricky Mannarino and next vanquishing a perfect record: Jannik Sinner navigates through to Felix Auger-Aliassime Cincinnati Open test

Jannik Sinner overcame a tricky opponent, multiple weather delays, and the swirling conditions in Cincinnati to defeat Adrian Mannarino in straight sets, booking his spot in the quarterfinals of the 2025 Cincinnati Open.

The Italian, who admitted the match was “very, very tricky,” praised the qualities that make Mannarino such an awkward competitor. “Many, many things,” Sinner said to Tennis Channel when asked what makes the Frenchman so difficult to face. “First of all, he’s a lefty. He keeps the ball very low on both swings, on both sides. I just tried to understand what would work best in certain moments. I changed my return position, went far back, trying to read his serve but also to break his rhythm. He was serving great, but in these kinds of matches you have to get used to it and feel the ball somehow.”

A lengthy rain delay forced both players off court, but Sinner kept his mind calm before returning to finish the job. “I tried to relax the mind, played a bit with my team, and then just tried to get back and bring the level I can bring at times. But you see today it’s very difficult — you can be a break up, serving at 30–love, and it seems finished, but it’s not. Tennis is so up and down, so I’m very happy to be in the next round.”

Sinner’s serve proved a key weapon late in the match, with two big aces sealing his progress. He credited both late-night practice after his previous match against Gabriel Diallo and his focus in challenging conditions. “I felt like today I was serving very well,” he said. “Actually, I didn’t have many chances against him today. I had some break chances in the first set but couldn’t use them. He was serving very well, and those were my chances.

“Here it’s very difficult to play tennis. When it’s breezy, it can be windy, it can rain, and then one second later the sun is out — you never know what’s happening. You just have to stay there mentally. The chances I had today, I tried to use them. It was a very positive match.”

The win sets up a quarterfinal clash with Felix Auger-Aliassime — a player Sinner has yet to beat. “I’ve never won against Felix,” Sinner admitted. “We had a very tough match here before — I had a match point and lost it, but it was a great match. He has huge potential, especially when he’s serving well. On this surface, the game style he plays suits him very, very well. It’s going to be very difficult, but at the same time I’m looking forward to the match. I like these challenges. Hopefully I can raise my level, because if I want to play evenly with him, I have to raise my level. Let’s see.”

For Sinner, quarterfinals are familiar and welcome territory, but he knows the road ahead only gets harder. “Quarterfinals are always the later stages of the tournament — I like to be in that situation,” he said. “I usually feel quite happy there, and I’m looking forward to it. But he’s a very tough opponent, and as I said, I’ve never beaten him, so let’s see what’s coming.”