Sinner pulls out of Cincinnati with knee injury as US Open looms
Jannik Sinner has withdrawn from the Cincinnati Open because of a right knee injury, ruling the world No 1 out of his second consecutive tournament ahead of the US Open.
The 24-year-old announced the decision in a statement on the ATP website on 9 August. "After consulting with my doctors and my team, I have to announce that I need to withdraw from the Masters 1000 tournament in Cincinnati," Sinner said. "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." The Guardian
Sinner also missed the Masters event in Montreal, the other principal warm-up for the US Open, which starts in New York on 30 August. At the time he said the decision was taken to "prioritise my health." Cincinnati begins on Thursday, the same day the Montreal tournament ends.
The withdrawal follows that of world No 2 Carlos Alcaraz, who pulled out of Cincinnati while battling a wrist injury. Novak Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam champion, also withdrew from the Montreal event alongside Sinner. That leaves the two biggest hard-court tune-ups before the year's final Grand Slam missing three of the sport's biggest names.
For Sinner, the timing is particularly stark. The five-time Grand Slam winner carried a six-tournament winning streak at ATP Masters 1000 level into the North American swing, a run that included retaining his Wimbledon title. That momentum has now stalled entirely — he has not played a competitive match since that streak.
Sinner's statement did not specify a timeline for recovery, and no update has been given on whether he will be fit for the US Open. For fans, the concern is real but familiar: knee injuries have disrupted the top of the men's game before. Djokovic withdrew from the 2024 Cincinnati Open and underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee, an injury that cost him the world No 1 ranking to Sinner himself. ATP Tour
Sinner's own history with mid-season injuries adds context. He withdrew from the Italian Open in May 2024 with a hip injury, and received treatment from ATP physio Alejandro Resnicoff after a fall against Grigor Dimitrov at Wimbledon in 2025. ATP Tour
The US Open draw takes place in the days before the tournament begins. Whether Sinner's name is in it will be the question hanging over the sport for the next three weeks.
