Jannik Sinner has ended the uncertainty over his Cincinnati Open participation, confirming that a problem in his right knee will keep him out of the Masters 1000 event.

In a statement shared by the tournament, he explained the decision after talks with his medical group and his team.

“After consulting with my doctors and my team, I have to announce that I need to withdraw from the Masters 1000 tournament in Cincinnati,” he wrote in statement shared by the tournament.

Sinner added that the knee has been an issue for some time and that he is not yet ready to return to competition.

“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.

“I’m very disappointed not to be able to play in Cincinnati and wish Bob [Moran] and his whole team a great and successful event.I can’t wait to be back next year, and I’m now focusing on getting ready for the US Open.”

The withdrawal has naturally prompted concern, but Paolo Bertolucci offered a more reassuring reading of the situation when speaking to Gazzetta.

“The news, which had actually been in the air for a couple of days, of Jannik Sinner’s withdrawal from the Cincinnati Masters 1000 should not, in my opinion, be read as a warning bell about the near future,” said Bertolucci.

He argued that the choice was aimed at protecting the player and helping him arrive at the US Open in the best possible shape, physically and mentally.

Bertolucci also pointed to the impact of the setback at Roland Garros, saying it had changed the way Sinner and his team approach health issues and competitive scheduling. He believes the world No 1’s main priority is now to recover fully before New York.

The Italian also linked Sinner’s decision to the current absence of Carlos Alcaraz, who has been out since April and remains the main threat to Sinner’s No 1 ranking.

Even so, Bertolucci still expects a strong showing at Flushing Meadows, despite the lack of matches before the tournament. He noted that hard courts suit Sinner best and said his preparation in New York should help restore match rhythm.

Sinner has won the US Open once, in 2024, and was runner-up last year after losing the final to Alcaraz.

Jannik Sinner’s injury concerns are now official after the world No 1 confirmed he will not play the Cincinnati Open. Reports had already circulated after he was seen at a medical facility in Italy last week, with speculation growing that a knee issue could affect his build-up to the US Open.

The Cincinnati Open confirmed his withdrawal on Sunday, announcing that the 2024 champion would not take part because of a right knee injury. The statement from tournament organisers read: “Jannik Sinner has withdrawn from the Cincinnati Open due to a right knee injury,” read their statement. “Wishing all the best to our 2024 champion and can’t wait to see you again next year.”

Sinner then addressed the decision himself and made clear that the problem had been discussed with his medical team. “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.

“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.

“I’m very disappointed not to be able to play in Cincinnati and wish Bob and his whole team a great and successful event. I can’t wait to be back next year and I’m now focusing on getting ready for the US Open.”

His comments suggest the issue may not be viewed as severe publicly, but the exact extent of the problem remains unclear. That uncertainty leaves a question mark over his preparation for the final Grand Slam of 2026.

The withdrawal is a setback for Sinner, who was due to use Cincinnati as his final warm-up event before the US Open. It also comes at a time when Carlos Alcaraz has already abandoned plans to begin his comeback in Cincinnati, leaving both leading names in men’s tennis racing to be fit for New York.

The 2026 Cincinnati Open is approaching fast, but the entry lists have already been hit hard. With the tournament set to begin in less than a week, withdrawals across both draws have reached 11.

Main draw play in Cincinnati runs from Thursday, 13 August to Sunday, 23 August at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio. The event is the second joint ATP/WTA 1000 stop on the North American hard-court swing, coming after the Canadian Open.

Carlos Alcaraz and Ig Swiatek were the men’s and women’s singles champions in Cincinnati in 2025. Alcaraz, however, will not be back to defend his title. The world No 2 is among six men who have pulled out of the Masters event, and he has not competed since April because of a right wrist injury.

Holger Rune is also absent after once again delaying his return from the Achilles injury he suffered in October last year. Jasmine Paolini, who reached the final in Cincinnati last year before finishing runner-up to Swiatek, will likewise miss the tournament. She also skipped the Canadian Open.

In a post on Instagram, the two-time Grand Slam finalist wrote: “We’ve decided that I won’t be in Cincinnati either,” Paolini began her statement on Instagram.

“After last year’s final, I was really looking forward to being back, but now the focus is on 100% being ready for the US Open and the rest of the season. Thank you for your support.”

The ATP withdrawal list also includes Alexander Bublik, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Sebastian Korda and Ethan Quinn. On the WTA side, Victoria Mboko, Hailey Baptiste, Jacqueline Cristian and Emma Raducanu have also withdrawn.

Each absence has triggered a replacement, with the updated lists now featuring fresh names across both fields as Cincinnati moves closer to the start of play.