Jannik Sinner has suffered a major setback in his preparations for the US Open after withdrawing from the Cincinnati Masters with a right knee injury. The world No. 1’s decision comes just weeks before the final Grand Slam of the season and has raised fresh concerns over whether he will be able to arrive in New York at full fitness.
Sinner’s latest setback comes after an extraordinary season. The Italian recently successfully defended his Wimbledon title, beating Alexander Zverev in the final to claim his fifth Grand Slam crown. He had also established himself as the dominant force on the ATP Tour, making his fitness heading into the US Open all the more important.
“After consulting with my doctors and my team, I have to announce that I need to withdraw from the Masters 1000 tournament in Cincinnati. My right knee has been bothering me, and even though we have been working hard with my medical team, I have to accept that I’m not ready to compete yet,” Sinner said in a statement posted on the ATP website.
Concerns over Sinner’s right knee intensified after he spent nearly four hours at a specialist clinic in Milan for medical examinations. The visit fuelled speculation about the seriousness of the issue, with the 24-year-old subsequently opting against competing in Cincinnati.
ALCARAZ INJURY ADDS TO US OPEN CONCERNS
Sinner is not the only major name facing a worrying fitness situation ahead of the US Open. Carlos Alcaraz has also withdrawn from the Cincinnati Masters as he continues to recover from a persistent right wrist injury.
The Spaniard has not played competitively since April, when he sustained the injury during the Barcelona Open. The problem forced him to miss the Italian Open, French Open and Wimbledon, with his recovery taking considerably longer than initially hoped.
Alcaraz had been targeting a return in Cincinnati, but his latest withdrawal has thrown his US Open title defence into serious doubt. He remains on the entry list for the tournament, meaning he has not yet been officially ruled out, but the lack of competitive action is a major concern.
The timing could hardly be worse for the Spaniard. Alcaraz won the US Open last year after beating Sinner in the final, continuing one of the sport’s biggest rivalries.
Sinner’s withdrawal from Cincinnati now leaves him with less match practice before the year’s final Grand Slam, while Alcaraz faces an even bigger question over whether he will be ready to compete at all.
With both stars dealing with injury concerns, the build-up to the US Open has suddenly become far more uncertain. Fans will now hope Sinner can recover from his knee issue and Alcaraz can finally complete his wrist rehabilitation, setting the stage for another chapter in their rivalry in New York.
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