Jannik Sinner returned to action at the Cincinnati Open with an emphatic opening victory, dispatching Daniel Elahi Galan 6-1, 6-1 in 59 minutes. It was the Italian’s first match since defeating Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final and he carried that form straight onto the hard court.

Sinner dropped just two games in the contest against the World No. 144, a scoreline that leaves little doubt about the balance between the players on the day. The 23-year-old now moves into the Round of 32, where he will face either Sebastian Baez or David Goffin.

The win continues a run Sinner began at this venue a year ago. Looking to retain his title after winning here 12 months ago, he arrives in Cincinnati on the back of a remarkable stretch: his record at big tournaments since that previous victory stands at 48-2.

This match was a straightforward start to his Cincinnati title defense. The scoreline and the brief duration of the match emphasise how quickly Sinner re-established control after the Wimbledon break. With a dominant first outing completed, attention will turn to the next opponent and how Sinner manages the step up in competition as the draw narrows.

For now the facts are clear: a dominant opening performance, minimal games dropped, and a path that leads to a Round of 32 encounter with either Baez or Goffin. Sinner’s objective in Cincinnati remains to defend the crown he claimed at this venue one year earlier, and the opening result offered a timely reminder of the form that produced a 48-2 record in big tournaments since that triumph.

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are the first two players confirmed for this season’s ATP Finals. Alcaraz secured his place in July and Sinner confirmed his spot in early August. Despite missing three months due to a doping ban, Sinner has amassed enough points to ensure he finishes no lower than seventh in the year-end rankings, mathematically guaranteeing a place at the season-ending championship alongside Alcaraz.

The ATP Finals uses a distinctive qualification and competition format. The top seven ranked players automatically qualify. The eighth spot is reserved for any player who wins a Grand Slam but is ranked between ninth and twentieth; if that does not occur, the eighth-ranked player takes the final place. Once the eight players are decided they are split into two groups of four for round-robin play, with each player contesting three matches. The top two from each group then progress to the semi-finals, which are played in a knockout format.

Since 2021 the tournament has been held in Turin at the Palasport Olimpico and will take place between November 9 and 16. The Finals could play a decisive role in the year-end No. 1 race: Alcaraz sits on 7,550 points to Sinner’s 6,010.

There is a notable gap beyond those two. Alexander Zverev has 3,690 points, Ben Shelton occupies fourth, Novak Djokovic is fifth, with Taylor Fritz and Jack Draper sixth and seventh. Alex de Minaur is in the uncertain eighth spot; that would be sufficient for entry provided no player ranked between ninth and twentieth wins the US Open.

Sinner won his first ATP Finals trophy last season, defeating Taylor Fritz 6-4, 6-4 in the final. He had reached the final in 2023 but lost to Novak Djokovic. Djokovic remains the tournament’s most successful player, having won the event seven times, including four consecutive titles between 2012 and 2015.

The women contest their equivalent at the WTA Finals, where the top eight compete in a group stage before a knockout phase. Aryna Sabalenka is currently the only woman qualified.

Jannik Sinner acknowledged the role of fortune in a pivotal Wimbledon moment and used it as motivation heading into his title defence at the Cincinnati Open.

Grigor Dimitrov was leading two sets to love in their round of 16 match at Wimbledon before a pectoral muscle injury forced him to withdraw.

“I was lucky against Grigor, but I took it as a sign,” Sinner said.

“You never know what can happen and that’s how it is in tennis. So you have to try to understand why and how certain things happen.

“And after that match, I really raised my level of play, and I played some of the best tennis I could play. It was a very emotional moment for me, and I was able to celebrate with my team.”

Sinner, the world No.1, arrives in Cincinnati seeking to retain the title he won there previously. He will face Daniel Elahi Galan in the Round of 16 and used the run from Wimbledon as a reference point for his mindset.

On the conditions in Cincinnati he offered a striking observation about the balls: “From my point of view, the tennis balls are getting smaller,” he said ahead of his Round of 16 match against Daniel Elahi Galan. “The more you play, the smaller they get.

“That is very strange because usually they open up and get slower, but here they get actually faster.

“The ball bounces much higher. We haven’t had one very windy day yet, but it’s going to be very difficult if there’s going to be wind here.

“We saw it last year, remember the match against Andrey was super difficult, so it’s very difficult and it’s going to be a mental game. I am trying to accept every situation on the court and trying to be ready.”

Sinner confirmed he will wear an arm sleeve in Cincinnati as he did at Wimbledon but insisted it was not for pain. “The elbow does not hurt, but I like the sensation that gives the sleeve,” he said. “It gives a little more stability in the impact with the ball. I had also used it at Wimbledon and I liked it.”