A respected Italian tennis voice has raised doubts about whether Jannik Sinner will be fit in time for the 2026 US Open after the world No 1 was forced to step away from recent events because of a right knee issue.

Sinner has not played since his four-set victory over Alexander Zverev in the Wimbledon final on 12 July, a result that delivered his fifth Grand Slam title. He missed the Canadian Open, which was not a complete surprise after also opting out in 2025, but his withdrawal from the Cincinnati Open prompted greater concern.

Sinner said he pulled out of the Masters 1000 tournament because of discomfort in his right knee. “After consulting with my doctors and my team, I have to announce that I need to withdraw from the Masters 1000 tournament in Cincinnati,” the 25-year-old said.

“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.

Reports last week said he had undergone shockwave therapy treatment on the knee at JMedical in Turin. He has not yet offered a further update on his condition, leaving his participation at Flushing Meadows uncertain ahead of the tournament’s start on 30 August.

Guido Monaco, a former Italian player who now works as a commentator and analyst for Eurosport, suggested he is not convinced Sinner will appear in New York. “I’m not so sure about Sinner. It’s just a feeling. I don’t want to worry anyone or give anyone false hope,” Monaco told OA Sport.

Monaco added that if Sinner and his medical team believe hard courts could make the problem worse, the safest choice may be to stay away. He also said inflammation makes hard courts particularly difficult and noted that the absence of matches is not necessarily the main issue for Sinner, who has already won Wimbledon and taken his vacation.

For Monaco, the question may remain open until New York.

Carlos Alcaraz has been warned against making his injury comeback at the 2026 US Open, with a former top-five ATP player making a forceful case for caution.

Alcaraz remains on the entry list for the event, which begins on Sunday 30 August, but his place in the draw is far from certain. The Spaniard has not competed for more than four months after suffering a right wrist injury in a first-round win at the ATP 500 event in Barcelona in April.

With no tournaments scheduled before the US Open, concerns have grown that returning immediately in best-of-five-set matches could be too ambitious after such a long layoff. That debate is sharpened by the fact that Alcaraz is the defending champion in New York, having beaten Jannik Sinner in last year’s final to claim his second title at the major.

Jose Luis Clerc, the retired Argentine player who now works as a commentator and analyst, has been especially direct in his advice. Speaking on ESPN Tenis last week, he urged Alcaraz to stay away from the tournament and wait for a return in Asia.

“Don’t participate in the US Open,” Clerc said in a message directed to Alcaraz while speaking on ESPN Tenis.

Clerc then repeated that message with even more urgency when he appeared on ESPN Tenis again.

“Don’t play, Carlitos! Don’t play! Start in Asia like I told you,” Clerc declared.

“Don’t make me mad! Did you hear me?”

The comments underline the uncertainty around Alcaraz’s plans as the final decision approaches. For now, he is still listed for the US Open, but the question remains whether he will risk an immediate return or follow the advice to postpone his comeback.

Alex Eala’s emergence has become one of the most striking storylines in tennis, and every week she keeps winning, the attention around her seems set to grow further.

At the Washington Open final, the support for the Filipina was so strong that, even in Jessica Pegula’s home country, the atmosphere felt more like downtown Manila than a neutral setting. Pegula had already experienced that intensity in a three-set loss to Eala earlier this month, and she was candid about what it was like to face both the player and her travelling support.

“Just to see how far you’ve come over the last couple of years when we first played, to see the amazing fans that follow you every single place you go – it’s not fun to play against, but I do appreciate the really fun atmosphere.”

That reaction was echoed again in Toronto, where the crowd was eager to watch Eala in the Canadian Open. Caty McNally, who lost in three sets to Eala there, viewed the occasion differently and said it was a privilege to be involved. After the match, Eala was thanked for “letting me be a part of this”.

Eala’s growing fanbase has also been part of the discussion around her results. In Cincinnati, where she exited in the round of 32 to former Wimbledon finalist Amanda Anisimova in another three-set match, Rennae Stubbs offered her view on how opponents should approach the challenge.

Stubbs, who has compared Eala’s relatively underpowered serve with that of Angelique Kerber, said dealing with the crowd is only part of the issue, alongside the quality of her groundstrokes and the first shot after serve.

On The Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast, she said, “You have to be mentally prepared to deal with the crowd. Not only Alex Eala’s ability and talent to take the ball on and redirect the ball really well, much like Angie Kerber used to do.

“If she allows Alex Eala to move around the court, she will lose.”

Stubbs also repeated her belief that the serve remains an area to watch, while noting opponents must learn how to handle the lefty delivery better.