Jannik Sinner, the current top-ranked male tennis player globally, pulled out of the Cincinnati Open on Sunday due to a knee injury. Sinner, who hasn’t played since clinching his back-to-back Wimbledon triumphs last month, also opted out of the National Bank Open in Montreal that commenced the previous week. The 24-year-old Sinner, holding five Grand Slam championships, only lacks a French Open victory to attain the coveted career Grand Slam.
In a statement relayed by tournament officials, the Italian player expressed regret over his withdrawal from the Masters 1000 event in Cincinnati due to a persistent issue with his right knee, despite diligent efforts with his medical team. Sinner acknowledged his unpreparedness to compete and emphasized his anticipation for a return next year, shifting his focus to preparing for the upcoming U.S. Open.
This development comes shortly after Carlos Alcaraz announced his withdrawal from the Cincinnati hard-court tournament because of an ongoing wrist injury. The absence of both Sinner and Alcaraz implies that spectators in Cincinnati will miss the opportunity to witness the top two men’s singles players in action when the event kicks off this Saturday.
Notably, two years ago, Sinner secured the Cincinnati title, a customary lead-up to the U.S. Open, which he subsequently won. However, in the U.S. Open final last year, Sinner was defeated by the 23-year-old Spanish player Alcaraz in a four-set match. Alcaraz is now gearing up to defend his U.S. Open title as the tournament’s main draw commences on August 30.