Jannik Sinner, the current top-ranked men’s tennis player globally, has pulled out of the Cincinnati Open due to a knee injury. Sinner, who hasn’t played since clinching his second consecutive Wimbledon championship last month, also opted out of the National Bank Open in Montreal that commenced recently. With five Grand Slam titles under his belt, the 24-year-old Sinner is only a French Open victory away from achieving a career Grand Slam.
In a statement relayed by tournament officials, the Italian player expressed his regret at having to withdraw from the Masters 1000 tournament in Cincinnati. Despite intensive efforts with his medical team to address his right knee issues, Sinner acknowledged that he isn’t sufficiently prepared to compete at present. He expressed eagerness to return next year and is now concentrating on preparing for the upcoming U.S. Open.
Carlos Alcaraz made a similar announcement earlier, revealing his withdrawal from the Cincinnati hard-court event due to a persistent wrist injury. Consequently, fans at Cincinnati will miss out on watching the world’s top two players in action as the men’s singles event kicks off this Saturday.
Sinner’s victory at the Cincinnati Open two years ago marked a significant milestone, leading to his subsequent triumph at the U.S. Open. However, last year, Alcaraz claimed the U.S. Open title by defeating Sinner in a four-set final. The 23-year-old Spaniard aims to defend his championship when the tournament’s main draw commences on August 30.