Jannik Sinner withdraws from Cincinnati Open with knee injury: what it means for the US Open
World No. 1 Jannik Sinner has withdrawn from the 2026 Cincinnati Open because of a right-knee injury. His US Open status is not yet confirmed.
What happened
The ATP Tour and Cincinnati Open announced on Sunday, August 9 that Sinner had pulled out of the ATP Masters 1000 event. Reuters published its report at 5:07 p.m. UTC, or 1:07 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. Cincinnati's main draw is scheduled for August 13-23.
Sinner said he made the decision after consulting his doctors and team. He described the problem as a bothersome right knee and said he had to accept that he was not ready to play. His public statement did not name a specific injury, grade its severity or give a return date.
What is confirmed
The withdrawal and the affected body part are confirmed by the ATP Tour, which reported the tournament's announcement and Sinner's statement. Reuters independently reported the same information. This is an official withdrawal, not a report based on practice footage or unnamed sources.
Sinner is the men's world No. 1 and won his fifth Grand Slam singles title at Wimbledon in July. He also missed the Canadian Open, so Cincinnati would have been his principal competitive hard-court preparation before the final major of the season.
- Player: Jannik Sinner
- Tournament missed: 2026 Cincinnati Open
- Reason announced: right-knee injury
- Announcement date: Sunday, August 9, 2026
- Cincinnati main draw: August 13-23
- US Open main draw begins: August 30
Does this mean Sinner will miss the US Open?
No. Sinner has not withdrawn from the US Open. His statement says he is concentrating on getting ready for New York, which indicates that participation remains his goal. That is different from confirmation that he will be healthy enough to play.
Missing Cincinnati removes a major warm-up opportunity and means he could reach the US Open without a competitive hard-court match since Wimbledon. It does not by itself establish that the knee problem is worsening or that his US Open place is in immediate danger.
Why the withdrawal matters
Cincinnati is one of the tour's nine Masters 1000 tournaments and the last men's event at that level before the US Open. Sinner won the title there in 2024 and finished runner-up in 2025, so his absence changes both the draw and the tournament's leading storylines.
The field had already lost US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz to a wrist injury. With both of the leading men's players absent, other contenders gain a clearer route through the draw. For Sinner, the immediate issue is preparation rather than ranking arithmetic: he loses the chance to test his movement and knee under match conditions before New York.
What remains unknown
No detailed medical diagnosis has been published. It is unknown whether the problem is inflammation, a structural injury or another condition, and there is no confirmed timetable for a return to full training or competition.
Sinner's US Open participation, match fitness and potential practice schedule also remain unconfirmed. Any claim that he is definitely out of the major—or definitely fit for it—would go beyond the information released so far. The next reliable update should come from Sinner, his team, the ATP Tour or the US Open.
Frequently asked questions
Why did Jannik Sinner withdraw from Cincinnati?
Sinner said his right knee has been bothering him and that, after consulting his doctors and team, he was not ready to compete.
Is Jannik Sinner out of the 2026 US Open?
No withdrawal from the US Open has been announced. Sinner said he is focusing on getting ready for the tournament.
When does the 2026 US Open begin?
The men's and women's singles main draws begin on August 30, 2026.
What is Sinner's exact knee injury?
The public announcement identifies a right-knee problem but does not provide a more specific diagnosis or recovery timetable.
When was the Cincinnati withdrawal announced?
It was announced on Sunday, August 9, 2026. Reuters published its report at 5:07 p.m. UTC, or 1:07 p.m. EDT.
Sources
Primary and official references used for this guide:
Published August 9, 2026 · Reviewed for clarity and source accuracy.