Jannik Sinner has withdrawn from the Cincinnati Masters, citing a major setback with his right knee just weeks before the US Open. The world No. 1 was expected to return at the ATP Masters 1000 event after skipping the Canadian Open, but he announced his decision in a statement, saying that despite extensive work with his medical team, he is still not fit enough to compete.
Sinner has struggled with physical issues throughout the 2026 season. At the French Open, he led Juan Manuel Cerundolo by two sets before cramps took over, and he lost 18 of the final 20 games in a stunning collapse. He bounced back strongly by defending his Wimbledon title, but now another health concern has emerged. The right knee problem has forced him to pull out of Cincinnati, a tournament where he has enjoyed considerable success in recent years.
The Cincinnati Masters has been a happy hunting ground for Sinner. In 2024, he lifted the title by defeating Frances Tiafoe in the final. Last year, he reached the championship match against Carlos Alcaraz but retired after falling 5-0 behind due to a viral illness. With those results in mind, his absence this year is a significant blow to both the tournament and his preparation for the final Grand Slam of the season.
Sinner's statement read: “After consulting with my doctors and my team, I have to announce that I must withdraw from the Cincinnati Masters 1000. My right knee has been giving me trouble, and although we’ve been working hard with my medical team, I have to accept that I’m still not ready to compete.”
The news comes as a disappointment to fans who hoped to see the Italian ace back on hard courts. Sinner had skipped the Canadian Open in order to rest and recover, and Cincinnati was earmarked as his return to competitive action before the US Open. Now, his preparation has been derailed once again.
Sinner’s recent fitness struggles
Sinner's physical fragility has been a recurring theme this season. The French Open collapse against Cerundolo was one of the most shocking moments of the tennis calendar. After racing through the first two sets, Sinner appeared in complete control before his body betrayed him. Cramps spread through his legs, and his level dropped dramatically. He managed to win only two more games in the entire match, a result that raised questions about his conditioning and tournament scheduling.
He responded by skipping the grass-court warm-up events, a decision that was vindicated at Wimbledon. Sinner looked refreshed and dominant as he successfully defended his title, reinforcing his status as the best player in the world. However, less than a month later, fitness concerns have resurfaced. This time, the issue is in his right knee, and it has proven stubborn enough to prevent him from competing in a Masters 1000 event.
The Cincinnati withdrawal is particularly worrying because Sinner already had an extended break after Wimbledon. He did not play in the Canadian Open, giving himself nearly three weeks to rest and train. Yet the knee problem has persisted, which suggests it may be more serious than initially thought. With the US Open set to begin in a few weeks, the Italian will now have to focus all his energy on rehabilitation.
Ranking impact and what it means for the No. 1 spot
Withdrawing from Cincinnati will cost Sinner 650 ranking points, as he had reached the final last year. That is a significant dent in his total, but it will not threaten his position at the top of the ATP rankings. The 24-year-old currently holds a 5,290-point lead over World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz. Even with the points lost, Sinner is almost certain to remain world No. 1 in the coming months.
That comfortable cushion gives him some breathing room, but it does not ease the concern over his fitness. The US Open is a best-of-five-set tournament on hard courts, one of the most physically demanding events on the calendar. Sinner will arrive in New York short on match play and under fresh scrutiny. His last competitive match was at Wimbledon, meaning he will have played only a handful of hard-court matches by the time the US Open begins, assuming he is even fit enough to compete.
Carlos Alcaraz and other ATP withdrawals
Sinner is not the only major name missing from Cincinnati. The defending champion, Carlos Alcaraz, has also withdrawn. The Spaniard has not fully recovered from the wrist injury he sustained in April, and despite hopes that he might return at the Masters 1000 event, he remains on the sidelines. There are also serious doubts over Alcaraz’s participation in the US Open, which would be a massive story for the sport.
Alexander Bublik has also pulled out, although his absence is not injury-related. The Kazakh player has not competed in Cincinnati since 2021 because his son’s birthday falls during the tournament, and he prefers to celebrate it with his family. It is an unusual but well-known scheduling quirk that has kept him away from the event for several consecutive years.
Holger Rune is another notable absentee. The Dane has been out of action since October 2025 due to an Achilles injury. He is reportedly in the final stages of recovery, but he is not yet ready to play at the highest level. Cincinnati was seen as a potential comeback spot, but Rune has decided to delay his return until he is fully fit.
WTA side: Paolini, Mboko, and Raducanu pull out
The women’s draw has also been hit by high-profile withdrawals. Jasmine Paolini is the most notable name on the WTA side. The Italian is still recovering from a lingering foot injury and has opted to skip Cincinnati in order to regain full fitness by the US Open. Having reached the final in Cincinnati last year, Paolini will certainly be disappointed to miss the tournament.
Victoria Mboko will also be absent. The young Canadian is still recovering from a knee injury she picked up at the HSBC Championships. That same injury forced her to withdraw from Wimbledon and her home event in Toronto. Her chances of playing at the US Open are looking increasingly bleak.
Emma Raducanu has also confirmed she will not play in Cincinnati. The British star is recovering from a stress fracture in her right lower leg, the same setback that led to her withdrawal from Wimbledon. She has not made a competitive appearance since the HSBC Championships in June, and there is no clear timetable for her return.
What this means for the US Open
For Sinner, Cincinnati is no longer the main concern. The real test is whether his right knee recovers in time for the US Open. He will arrive at Flushing Meadows without the benefit of a warm-up tournament on hard courts, and with questions lingering over his physical condition. The last time he played a full hard-court season, he looked nearly unbeatable, but this year has been different.
His game is built on explosive movement and relentless baseline pressure, which places considerable strain on his legs and joints. A knee problem is especially concerning for a player of his style. If the injury is not fully healed, it could impact his ability to slide, change direction, and generate power on the hard courts of New York.
Sinner will now work with his doctors and fitness team to determine the best course of treatment. The hope is that rest and rehab will be enough to get him ready for the season’s final Grand Slam. But with each setback, the doubts grow louder. Tennis fans will be watching closely for any updates in the coming days, knowing that Sinner’s presence at the US Open could define the rest of the season.
At his best, Sinner is the clear favorite to lift the US Open trophy. He has already proven he can handle the pressure of Grand Slam finals, and his hard-court record is among the best in the world. But none of that matters if his body will not cooperate. The next few weeks will be critical for the world No. 1 as he races against time to be fit for the final major of the year.
Source: Yardbarker News