Sinner's Cincinnati withdrawal raises US Open fitness questions

World number one Jannik Sinner has withdrawn from this week's Cincinnati Open because of a knee injury, according to the BBC.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.