Shock at Cincinnati Open: Jannik Sinner Withdraws Too

Bad news continues to pile up at the Cincinnati Open, surprising tennis fans. Following Carlos Alcaraz's announcement that he would miss the tournament due to a wrist injury, world No. 1 Jannik Sinner has followed suit, confirming his own withdrawal. The Italian star said: "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."

The 24-year-old expressed his disappointment at missing out on Cincinnati, wishing tournament director Bob Moran and his team a successful event while stressing that his priority now was preparing for the US Open. It's worth recalling that Sinner, who won his fifth career Grand Slam title by defeating Alexander Zverev in the Wimbledon final, had already swept the first five ATP Masters 1000 titles this season, becoming only the second player in history to achieve that feat after Novak Djokovic.

Sinner's knee issue is said to have surfaced during work with his medical team following Wimbledon; according to Italian outlet Corriere della Sera, the player underwent extensive testing in Milan last week. With Sinner absent from the Cincinnati Open, running August 13-23, players such as Zverev and Djokovic are now considered the frontrunners for the title. His participation in the US Open, beginning August 31, is not currently considered at risk, with the decision seen as an effort to arrive at the tournament in peak physical condition.

Image: British GQ