Sinner withdraws from Cincinnati Open ahead of US Open
Italian player’s exit from the Masters 1000 event follows earlier decision to skip Montreal, compounding concerns for the final Grand Slam of the season.
World number one Jannik Sinner has withdrawn from the Cincinnati Open Masters 1000 tournament due to a right knee injury. The Italian player announced the decision on Sunday, stating that despite medical consultation, he is not ready to compete. The announcement was posted on the ATP website, where Sinner confirmed that his right knee has been bothering him and that he must accept he is not yet fit for the field.
This development follows Sinner’s earlier decision to skip the Montreal Masters to prioritise his health. The 24-year-old had been on a six-tournament winning streak at the 1000 level heading into the North American hard-court swing before withdrawing from the Canadian event. The Montreal Masters concluded on the same day the Cincinnati Open was scheduled to begin, marking a significant gap in competitive play for the five-time Grand Slam winner.
Sinner’s withdrawal comes shortly after world number two Carlos Alcaraz also pulled out of the Cincinnati Open due to a wrist injury. The concurrent exits of the top two ranked players underscore the physical toll of the hard-court swing and raise questions regarding the readiness of the field for the upcoming major.
The Cincinnati Open serves as a key warm-up event for the US Open, which begins in New York on 30 August. As the final Grand Slam of the season, the tournament carries significant weight for seeding and momentum, making the absence of the leading contenders a notable disruption to the pre-season narrative.
While the specific nature and severity of Sinner’s knee injury have not been detailed beyond his statement, the withdrawal leaves a void in the top tier of the draw. The ATP will now need to adjust the seeding and qualification pathways as the tournament approaches later this week.
