Stefanos Tsitsipas under fire over ugly scenes in Cincinnati final

Stefanos Tsitsipas has been questioned by tennis commentators and fans after a perceived lack of effort in the Cincinnati Masters final.

Tsitsipas was no match for Borna Coric on Sunday as the Croatian capped his return to the sport following a lengthy absence due to a shoulder injury with his first Masters 1000 title.

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On the comeback trail after undergoing right shoulder surgery last year, Coric returned to the ATP Tour in March.

After eight months on the sidelines he was back in the winner's circle on Sunday as he claimed the biggest title of his career.

Coric beat Tsitsipas 7-6 (0) 6-2 in a one-sided final in which the Greek star appeared to give up late in the match.

Commentators were left questioning whether Tsitsipas had suffered an injury after he didn't attempt to run for a number of balls late in the match.

"That's another one that he didn't even go for," one TV commentator said.

"You have to wonder whether he's injured at this point because that is very strange to see."

Fans were also left wondering whether Tsitsipas was injured or if he'd simply lost interest.

Ranked 152 and in the tournament via a protected ranking, Coric experienced a remarkable week.

It included a second-round victory over Rafa Nadal, with a brilliant final that no doubt marks the 25-year-old Croatian as a dark horse contender when play gets underway at the US Open on August 29.

The title was the third of Coric's career, but his first since 2018.

"It was a very, very tough match at the beginning," Coric said afterwards.

"I was not playing very well and he was pushing me very hard. I started to serve better, I started to play better.

"I was fighting very hard and I think in the second I played my best set of the whole year."

Caroline Garcia makes history with Cincinnati title

Earlier, Caroline Garcia beat Petra Kvitova 6-2 6-4 to claim the women's title in Cincinnati, becoming the first qualifier ever to win a WTA 1000 tournament.

After battling through qualifying, Garcia beat three top-10 opponents - Maria Sakkari, Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula - to reach Sunday's final.

She then delivered a masterclass on Sunday against two-time Wimbledon champion Kvitova.

Leading the WTA Tour in aces and second in break points saved, the 28-year-old Frenchwoman relied on her big weapons to clinch her third title of the season.

In all, she sent down 11 aces and saved all eight break points she faced against the 32-year-old Kvitova.

Since coming back from a foot injury in May, Garcia has won three events on three different surfaces - clay in Warsaw where she beat World No.1 Iga Swiatek, grass in Bad Homburg and hard-court in Cincinnati.

"It's hard to believe I am standing here today, it has been such a week," Garcia told the crowd.

"I saw something today that it was your (Kvitova's) 40th career final and I was like OK, imagine that."

Garcia is now the first qualifier to win a WTA 1000 title since the concept began in 2009.

with AAP

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