Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek provided fans at the Cincinnati Open with a surprise they likely won’t forget for a very long time.
A select group of fans were chosen to share their thoughts on their favorite player in front of a camera. They were all under the impression that their words were being recorded and would then be shown later to the players.
Little did they know that each player was actually standing behind the curtain waiting to greet them when they were finished. Making the moment even more funny is that there was a TV in front of them which at a certain point was displaying their favorite player. They all thought they were looking at a recording of the player just standing in place.
The fans were getting asked to stand up close to the camera for a picture, which is when the player would surprise them from behind.
Heartfelt messages to their favorite players turned into a sweet surprise 🫶@CincyTennis | #CincyTennis
— ATP Tour (@atptour) August 11, 2025
Players Loving The Support
It was interesting to see how these different fans describe their favorite players.
“He’s just a mental fortress,” a pair of Sinner fans said. “Nothing phases him on the court. I’ve watched him play back when he was a teenager, I can’t believe he’s already at World No. 1 at his stage. It can’t be taken for granted and it’s always helped me work on my own game and be a better player myself.”
A Swiatek fan used a word to describe the reigning Wimbledon champion that most wouldn’t. It seemed to catch Swiatek by surprise, too. She also funnily played it off by raising her “claws” like a cat.
“Iga is an animal,” the fan said. “She has got the total package for tennis. She’s just amazing.”
Fans of Sabalenka appreciated how she is always herself and unafraid to show her emotions.
“I love how she’s so authentically herself,” the fan said. “It’s so inspirational for little girls to really step into that. Her raw emotion is just something that I think we can all as women really own.”
In the case of Alcaraz, it’s always about staying positive.
“Alcaraz had a quote: ‘I don’t win or lose, I win or learn,” the fan said. “That is one of my favorite quotes because you can always take something away from tennis that you didn’t know before you started.”
The Cincinnati event will run until Aug. 18.
The winner of the Cincinnati Open is usually considered one of the big favorites to win the U.S. Open. The final Major of the year begins Aug. 24.
