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Sinner's Cincinnati withdrawal raises US Open fitness questions
World No 1's knee injury adds uncertainty to his US Open preparations
Tobia Marenghi412 wordsEdition №80Tuesday, 11 August 2026 — Edition № 80
World number one Jannik Sinner has withdrawn from this week's Cincinnati Open because of a knee injury, according to the BBC. The Italian tennis star said he still expects to be fit for the US Open, which begins on 30 August, but the decision adds an element of uncertainty to his preparations for the season's final Grand Slam.
The Guardian's report quotes Sinner as saying, "After consulting my doctors and my team, I have to announce I need to withdraw." The 24-year-old has been managing the knee issue for several weeks, and the decision to skip Cincinnati appears to be a precautionary measure aimed at ensuring he is at full strength for New York.
Sinner's withdrawal from Cincinnati follows his earlier exit from the Cincinnati Open last week, when he pulled out with the same injury. The world number one has not competed since his quarter-final run at Wimbledon, where he was beaten by Novak Djokovic in four sets.
The timing is significant for Sinner's calendar. Cincinnati is a key warm-up event on hard courts, the same surface used at the US Open. By skipping it, Sinner loses valuable match practice against top-level opposition just two weeks before the year's final major. However, the BBC noted that Sinner still expects to be fit for the US Open, suggesting the injury is not considered serious enough to threaten his participation.
Sinner's fitness has been a recurring theme in the foreign press this season. He withdrew from the Cincinnati Open last year with a hip problem, and he has also battled illness at various points during his rise to the top of the rankings. The Guardian's tennis correspondent noted that Sinner's team has been cautious with his schedule, prioritising Grand Slams over smaller events.
For Italian tennis, Sinner's health is a matter of national interest. The world number one has carried the hopes of a country that has not seen a male Grand Slam champion since Adriano Panatta won the French Open in 1976. His recent form — including a semi-final run at the Australian Open and a quarter-final appearance at Wimbledon — has made him a genuine contender for the US Open title, and any doubt over his fitness will be watched closely by fans and pundits alike.
The US Open draw is expected to be challenging, with Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev all in form. Sinner's absence from Cincinnati means he will enter the tournament without a competitive match on hard courts since his Wimbledon exit. Whether that proves a hindrance or a chance to arrive fresh remains to be seen, but the world number one's camp will hope the extra rest pays off.