Jannik Sinner withdraws from Cincinnati with knee injury

World No. 1 Jannik Sinner has withdrawn from the Cincinnati Open after failing to recover fully from a right knee injury, raising fresh questions over the Italian star’s fitness ahead of the US Open.

Sinner confirmed his decision on Sunday after consulting his doctors and medical team. The 24-year-old said his knee had continued to bother him despite treatment and that he was not yet ready to return to competitive action.

“After consulting with my doctors and my team, I have to announce that I need to withdraw,” Sinner said in a statement published by the ATP.

The decision comes just days after Sinner also pulled out of the Masters 1000 event in Montreal. He has now missed both major North American hard-court tournaments that traditionally serve as important preparations for the US Open.

Sinner’s withdrawal is particularly significant given his recent form. The Italian arrived at the North American swing on a six-tournament winning streak at Masters 1000 level and has not played since successfully defending his Wimbledon title last month.

The Cincinnati setback also means Sinner will enter the final Grand Slam of the season without a competitive match on the North American hard courts. The US Open main draw begins in New York on August 30, leaving him with limited time to regain full fitness.

Adding to the uncertainty, world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz is also expected to miss Cincinnati while dealing with a wrist injury. The two young stars have become the central figures of men’s tennis and contested last year’s US Open final, with Alcaraz winning in four sets.

Sinner’s priority now is clear: recovery rather than rushing back. His decision reflects the importance of arriving in New York healthy, particularly with another Grand Slam title within reach.

For Cincinnati, however, the absence of both Sinner and Alcaraz is a major blow. For tennis fans, the bigger question is whether the sport’s two leading stars will be fully fit when the US Open begins.