Jannik Sinner has confirmed he will not compete at the Cincinnati Open due to a right knee problem, casting a shadow over his preparations for the US Open, which begins on August 30 in New York.
The 24-year-old Italian has not played a single match since lifting the Wimbledon title last month, where he defeated Alexander Zverev in the final to claim his fifth Grand Slam singles crown. Cincinnati was set to be his sole warm-up before heading to Flushing Meadows, making the withdrawal all the more significant.
In a statement released through the ATP, Sinner expressed clear frustration: his right knee had been troubling him despite intensive work with his medical team, and he ultimately felt he had no choice but to sit out. He did, however, insist his focus remains on being ready for the US Open, which runs through September 13.
The timing opens a fascinating window for Novak Djokovic, who is competing in Cincinnati for the first time since 2023. The Serbian great, currently tied on 24 Grand Slam titles with Margaret Court, is chasing a record-breaking 25th major. Djokovic lost to Sinner in the Wimbledon semifinals this year, a defeat that led some observers to question whether his window for history was closing. With Sinner now nursing his knee and Carlos Alcaraz still sidelined since the Barcelona Open in April because of a wrist injury, that window looks considerably more open heading into New York.
Alcaraz, who won the 2025 Cincinnati title before Sinner retired through illness in the final, is also in a race against time to feature at the US Open.
TennisDraw users had Sinner penciled in as a top contender for the US Open draw, and his fitness status will be one of the most closely watched storylines before brackets lock.
