World number one Sinner withdraws from Cincinnati Open with knee injury ahead of U.S. Open

World number one Jannik Sinner has withdrawn from the Cincinnati Open with a right knee injury, tournament organisers said on Sunday, dealing a setback to his preparations for this month's U.S. Open.

The 24-year-old Italian, who won his fifth Grand Slam title at Wimbledon last month, had already pulled out of the Canadian Open, a key warm-up event for the U.S. Open. His Cincinnati absence follows that earlier withdrawal and comes as he manages ongoing issues with his right knee.

Sinner is a former Cincinnati champion, having won the title in 2024, and he finished runner-up to seven-times Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz at the tournament last year. Those results form part of his recent hard-court record in North American lead-up events.

"After consulting with my doctors and my team, I have to announce that I need to withdraw from the Masters 1000 tournament in Cincinnati," Sinner said in a statement. "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."

Sinner's withdrawal further depletes the field in Cincinnati; U.S. Open champion Carlos Alcaraz is also sidelined by a wrist injury. The Cincinnati Open main draw begins on August 13.

"I'm very disappointed not to be able to play in Cincinnati... I can't wait to be back next year and I'm now focusing on getting ready for the U.S. Open." The U.S. Open main draw gets under way on August 30.