World No. 1 Jannik Sinner has withdrawn from the 2026 Cincinnati Open because of a right knee injury, removing another of the tournament’s biggest stars just days before the men’s main draw begins. Sinner announced Sunday that continuing discomfort in his right knee had left him unable to compete despite treatment and work with his medical team.
“My right knee has been bothering me,” Sinner said, adding that he had to accept that he was “not ready to compete yet.” The 24-year-old Italian will instead focus on getting healthy for the US Open, which begins August 30 in New York. The withdrawal is a significant blow for Cincinnati. Sinner won the tournament in 2024 and returned to the final last year, where Carlos Alcaraz took the title after Sinner retired during the opening set.
Sinner had been expected to arrive in Ohio as the No. 1 player in the world and one of the leading favorites for the title. Instead, he joins Alcaraz among the major names missing from the men’s field. Alcaraz withdrew earlier this week because of the right wrist injury that has kept him out of competition since April.
Sinner’s absence also raises questions about how much competitive preparation he will have before the final Grand Slam of the season. He has not played since winning Wimbledon in July, where he defeated Alexander Zverev in the final to capture the fifth Grand Slam singles title of his career. Sinner had already withdrawn from the Canadian Open, meaning Cincinnati was positioned to provide his most important match preparation on North American hard courts before the US Open.
Reports from Europe in recent days had already raised doubts about his participation in Cincinnati. Sinner underwent medical examinations and treatment for the knee problem before ultimately deciding against traveling to compete. The injury does not currently appear to have changed his intention to play the US Open. Sinner made clear Sunday that preparing for New York is now the priority.
“I’m now focusing on getting ready for the US Open,” he said. Sinner’s withdrawal also changes the Cincinnati draw before play begins. Stefanos Tsitsipas, the 2022 Cincinnati finalist who had originally been listed in qualifying, is expected to move into the main field in Sinner’s place.
For Cincinnati organizers, losing both Sinner and Alcaraz removes the two players who contested last year’s championship match and two of the sport’s biggest attractions. Alexander Zverev and Novak Djokovic remain among the leading names scheduled to compete in the ATP Masters 1000 tournament.
The Cincinnati Open men’s main draw begins August 13 and runs through August 23. For Sinner, however, the immediate concern has shifted from defending ranking points or adding another Masters 1000 title to making sure his knee is ready for New York. With the US Open only three weeks away, his recovery will now be one of the biggest stories heading into the final Grand Slam of the year.
