Jannik Sinner has announced that he will not take part in the Cincinnati Open after a problem with his right knee forced him to withdraw. The 2026 world number one has not been seen on a tennis court since his triumph over Alexander Zverev at Wimbledon in July, where he successfully defended his title. The Italian star had already pulled out of the National Bank Open in Montreal the week before, and his decision to skip the upcoming Masters 1000 event in Cincinnati has intensified speculation about his physical condition as the US Open approaches.
The Grand Slam, which kicks off on August 30, will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, and fans are now left wondering whether Sinner will be fit enough to compete at the highest level. In a brief statement, Sinner explained the reasoning behind his choice: "After consulting with my doctors and my team, I have to announce that I need to withdraw from the Masters 1000 tournament in Cincinnati. My right knee has been bothering me and even though we have been working hard with my medical team, I have to accept that I'm not ready to compete yet." He added that he felt "very disappointed not to be able to play in Cincinnati" and extended his best wishes to tournament director Bob Moran and the entire organizing crew.
"I can't wait to be back next year and I'm now focusing on getting ready for the US Open," he concluded. The timing of Sinner's withdrawal is particularly significant because it deprives him of a chance to regain momentum before the US Open.
Earlier in the season, he was forced to retire from the 2025 US Open final after just five games in the first set due to an injury, losing the chance to avenge his loss to Carlos Alcaraz. That abrupt ending left a lingering question about his durability on the biggest stages, and the current knee problem only adds to those concerns. The Cincinnati Open, officially known as the Western & Southern Open, is scheduled to begin on Tuesday and will run through to the singles finals on August 23.
The tournament is a key warm‑up event for players heading to New York, offering valuable match practice on hard courts similar to those used at Flushing Meadows. With Sinner absent, the draw opens up for other contenders, and the tournament will still be shown live on Sky Sports, giving viewers a chance to follow the action despite the high‑profile withdrawal. For tennis enthusiasts, Sky Sports also provides a comprehensive schedule of live matches, scores, and upcoming fixtures across the ATP and WTA tours.
In addition to traditional broadcasting, fans can stream matches without a contract through the NOW platform, which is integrated with the Sky Sports app. This year, Sky Sports customers enjoy more than a 50% increase in live sport coverage at no extra charge, making it easier than ever to keep up with the sport’s biggest events, from the early‑season hard‑court swing to the season‑ending Grand Slam. Looking ahead, Sinner’s primary focus will now shift to rehabilitation and preparation for the US Open.
His team will likely employ a combination of physiotherapy, targeted strength work, and a carefully managed training schedule to ensure the knee recovers fully before the tournament begins. Historically, elite players who have dealt with similar setbacks have used the recovery period to fine‑tune other aspects of their game—such as serve consistency, return positioning, and mental resilience—so it is possible that Sinner could emerge from this injury even stronger. The broader tennis calendar for 2026 continues to feature a packed lineup of high‑profile events, with the ATP and WTA tours offering a mix of traditional clay‑court tournaments, grass‑court festivals, and hard‑court swings across the globe.
While Sinner’s absence from Cincinnati is a disappointment for fans and a setback for his own ranking ambitions, it also underscores the physical demands placed on modern players who compete week after week in high‑intensity matches. In summary, Jannik Sinner’s decision to withdraw from the Cincinnati Open due to a lingering knee problem raises legitimate concerns about his readiness for the US Open later this month. His statement reflects both disappointment and a pragmatic approach to health, emphasizing the importance of recovery over short‑term competition. As the tournament proceeds without him, tennis audiences can still enjoy a full slate of matches on Sky Sports and stream them via NOW, while Sinner works diligently behind the scenes to return to peak form for the season’s final major championship.