Jannik Sinner's preparations for the North American hardcourt swing have hit a worrying snag, with Italian outlet Corriere Della Sera reporting that a recent knee check-up was anything but routine. The world No. 1 spent four hours at an Italian clinic ahead of the Western and Southern Open in Cincinnati, and while the visit was initially described as standard procedure, the new report suggests a genuine niggle has been troubling the knee.
Sinner is now set for a second consultation with Professor Gianluca Melegati, a specialist who has worked with AC Milan and the Italian rugby team. That appointment is expected to take place just days before Sinner would need to travel to Ohio, and his team has not ruled out withdrawing from the event entirely.
The stakes are significant. Sinner reached the Cincinnati final last year, meaning a withdrawal could cost him up to 650 ranking points. He already skipped the Canadian Open, leaving him with no competitive hardcourt matches ahead of what would be a direct trip to Flushing Meadows. The encouraging news is that, according to the same report, his US Open participation is not currently considered at risk.
This is not entirely unfamiliar territory for Sinner. He arrived at Wimbledon this summer without a single grass-court match under his belt and still claimed the title for a second consecutive year, navigating wins over Alexander Zverev and Novak Djokovic among others. His only real scare came in the opening round against Miomir Kecmanovic.
Earlier in 2025, Sinner had a grueling clay swing, winning Masters titles in Monte Carlo, Madrid, and Rome before a fatigue-related exit at Roland Garros against Juan Manuel Cerundolo.
TennisDraw users have been backing Sinner heavily in US Open bracket projections, so this fitness update will be one to watch closely.
