Sinner Joins Alcaraz in Withdrawing From Cincinnati, Clouding US Open

August 10, 2026 - 01:07

World number one Jannik Sinner has pulled out of next week's Cincinnati Open, citing fatigue and a need to manage his body carefully. The Italian's decision comes just days after Carlos Alcaraz also withdrew from the same event due to a wrist injury, leaving the final hard-court tune-up before the US Open without two of its biggest draws.

Sinner, who won the Cincinnati title last year, said the decision was not easy but necessary. He explained that after a long clay and grass season, followed by the hard-court swing, his body needs rest. The 23-year-old has been dealing with a nagging hip issue since Wimbledon, and while he insists it is not serious, he does not want to risk aggravating it so close to the year's final Grand Slam.

His withdrawal means the Cincinnati field will be missing both the top seed and the defending champion. Alcaraz, the world number two, hurt his wrist during practice and decided to skip the event as a precaution. The Spaniard has been dealing with the problem for a couple of weeks and felt it was wise to stop before it worsened.

The news is a blow for tournament organizers, who were hoping to showcase a strong lineup. But for fans of the sport, the bigger concern is what this means for the US Open, which begins in just over two weeks. Both players are considered the main threats to Novak Djokovic's title defense, and their fitness will be closely watched in the coming days.

Sinner said he plans to train lightly and then head to New York early to get used to the courts. He remains confident he will be ready for the first round. Alcaraz has not given a clear timeline but has not ruled out playing in New York either. For now, both are taking the cautious route, hoping that a few extra days of rest will make all the difference when the real action starts.