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Sinner’s US Open prospects hinge on fitness as Mouratoglou urges efficiency

Sinner may miss New York, and Mouratoglou says he must keep matches short if he plays.

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Jannik Sinner’s place at the US Open remains uncertain, a situation that would strip the tournament of some of its expected star power, particularly with Carlos Alcaraz also in doubt.

The Italian is understood to be managing a knee injury, which has already kept him out of both the Canadian Open and the Cincinnati Open in the build-up to New York. He is still listed for the US Open, so his participation remains possible, but the issue has raised obvious questions about how far he can go if he does appear.

Patrick Mouratoglou addressed the situation on Instagram and set out what the world No 1 must do if he is to give himself the best chance of lifting the title. He said: “Am I worried about Jannik? Yes and no. I’m not saying: Wow, he’s coming to the US Open without having played a single match. He did that at Wimbledon and won.

“The 25-year-old also has a certain gap to most of the other players. There’s a lot of pressure at a Grand Slam tournament. He has to be very efficient and not spend too much time on the court. He has to beat his opponent clearly.”

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That idea is not without precedent. At Wimbledon earlier this year, Sinner arrived without a competitive match on grass, then settled into the event after a five-set opening round against Miomir Kecmanovic. From there, he won the rest of his matches in straight sets until the final.

He would need a similar transition at Flushing Meadows, where being the top seed means he would not face another top 10 player until at least the fourth round. Even so, this is not the same challenge. Wimbledon tested his match fitness, while the US Open would begin with a knee injury in the background.

Mouratoglou’s caution appears logical. Short matches would help Sinner protect himself, but they would also give opponents a clear blueprint. If he does arrive in New York, he would still be the favourite, though with more uncertainty than usual.

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The most decorated active ATP Tour players: Djokovic leads a deep list

Djokovic leads the active ATP Tour title race, with Alcaraz, Sinner and Zverev close behind.

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Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic dominate most ATP Tour conversations, but they are not the only active players with major pedigree. In 2026, seven current players own Grand Slam titles, a group that grew after Alexander Zverev finally ended his long wait for one at Roland Garros. Beyond that elite tier, the tour still features several established champions with major and Masters-level success.

Here is a look at the eight most decorated active players on the ATP Tour, ranked by career titles.

8) Stan Wawrinka – 16 titles
Wawrinka will end his career after the 2026 season, and his place on this list is secure. The Swiss star captured three Grand Slam titles, winning the Australian Open in 2014, Roland Garros in 2015 and the US Open in 2016. He also lifted the Monte Carlo Masters in 2014 and added ATP 500 trophies in Dubai, Tokyo and Rotterdam. His most recent title came at the Geneva Open in 2017.

7) Andrey Rublev – 18 titles
Rublev has not yet added a Grand Slam title, but he remains one of the leading title-winners of his generation. He has collected Masters trophies in Monte Carlo in 2023 and Madrid in 2024, along with ATP 500 titles in Qatar, Dubai, Vienna and Rotterdam. His latest title came at the Swedish Open in 2026.

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6) Marin Cilic – 21 titles
Cilic is one of the few active Grand Slam champions, having won the US Open in 2014. He also took the Cincinnati Open in 2016 and has continued to build an impressive title total since debuting in 2005. His final title so far came at the Hangzhou Open in 2024.

5) Daniil Medvedev – 23 titles
Medvedev’s resume includes the US Open in 2021, six Masters titles and the ATP Finals in 2020. He has also added the Almaty Open, Brisbane International and Dubai Tennis Championships in the last year.

4) Alexander Zverev – 25 titles
Zverev completed his Grand Slam breakthrough at Roland Garros in 2026. He has also won the ATP Finals twice, claimed Olympic gold in Tokyo in 2021 and taken seven Masters titles.

3) Carlos Alcaraz – 26 titles
At 23, Alcaraz already owns the Career Grand Slam after winning the Australian Open in 2026. He has eight Masters titles and still needs only the Paris Masters, the Canadian Open and the Shanghai Masters among ATP 1000 events.

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2) Jannik Sinner – 30 titles
Sinner has already won five Grand Slam titles, every Masters event except Roland Garros, and the ATP Finals twice. In 2026, he has added six titles, including Wimbledon and the Sunshine Double.

1) Novak Djokovic – 101 titles
Djokovic remains the benchmark. His haul includes 24 Grand Slam titles, 40 Masters titles and Olympic gold from Paris in 2024. He stands eight titles shy of Jimmy Connors’ Open Era record of 109.

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Rick Macci says Alcaraz and Sinner stand apart from the rest

Rick Macci explains why he sees Alcaraz and Sinner as a level above the ATP Tour field.

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Legendary coach Rick Macci has offered a clear view on the ATP Tour race at the top of men’s tennis, saying he does not believe any current player will match the level set by Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.

Since the start of 2024, Alcaraz and Sinner have been the sport’s defining names, sharing five of the last 11 Grand Slam titles between them after Novak Djokovic collected his 24th and most recent major at the 2023 US Open. Their grip on the biggest stages has continued in 2026, with Alcaraz winning the Australian Open and Sinner taking Wimbledon. Alexander Zverev, meanwhile, captured his first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros.

Alcaraz now owns seven major titles, while Sinner has established himself as a five-time Grand Slam champion.

Among the younger names being discussed as possible long-term challengers are Rafael Jodar and Joao Fonseca. In an exclusive interview, Tennis365 asked Macci whether he believes those players can eventually compete with the two leaders of the game.

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Macci was willing to acknowledge their potential, but drew a firm line when it came to the very top. “Fonseca can definitely be in the mix,” said Macci. “A lot of those guys are going to go into the top five because they’re so young.

“But, the way Sinner plays – he has firepower off both sides, and he can produce quality off of quality. He’s hitting the ball 80 miles an hour eight times in a row, and holding the baseline.

“And his mind’s made of granite — that’s why he’s number one on the planet! He has the most important thing, he doesn’t have all the motor skills like Carlos.

“Alcaraz, he checks every box. The only time he gets in trouble is when he has too many options. But what a good situation… his toughest opponent, a lot of times, is in the mirror. It’s not the other guy.

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“So, these other guys can make a cameo and be top five, but no one that I see right now is going to be in that mix [with Alcaraz and Sinner], because they still have a few things not like them — whether it be a little different movement, or maybe not as strong at this or that.

“Whereas, Alcaraz checks every box, and the way Sinner plays, especially in 2026, you can’t penetrate the guy on any surface.”

Macci’s perspective carries particular weight. He has coached five future world No 1 players: Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Jennifer Capriati, Maria Sharapova and Andy Roddick.

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Arthur Fils backed as the player to watch in Cincinnati quarter-finals

Simon backed Fils for Cincinnati after Sinner, Alcaraz, and four top seeds exited early.

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A former world No. 6 has singled out one ATP player as “slightly better” than the others still standing at the 2026 Cincinnati Open.

The tournament lost its two biggest names before it even settled into the Masters 1000 stage, with Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz both withdrawing because of injuries. That opened the door for the rest of the field, but the top seeds have already fallen away in numbers.

In Cincinnati, the top five seeds were Alexander Zverev, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Novak Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev and Alex de Minaur. None made the quarter-finals. Zverev, Auger-Aliassime and de Minaur were beaten in the last 16, Medvedev went out in the third round and Djokovic exited in the second.

That leaves sixth seed Taylor Fritz as the highest-ranked player in the last eight. Flavio Cobolli and Lorenzo Musetti are also among the top 10 seeds still alive, while the quarter-final line-up is completed by Tommy Paul, Thiago Agustin Tirante, Arthur Fils, Brandon Nakashima and Frances Tiafoe.

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Fritz is the only Masters 1000 champion among the eight remaining players, thanks to his title in Indian Wells in 2022. Nakashima, Musetti and Tiafoe have all been Masters 1000 finalists, while none of the four players in the top half, Paul, Cobolli, Tirante and Fils, have reached a final at this level.

Still, Gilles Simon believes the Frenchman is the man to beat. The former ATP player and two-time Masters 1000 finalist wrote on Twitter/X: “Even if it’s close for me, @ArthurFils is slightly better than all the players who remain in the draw,” Simon wrote on Twitter/X.

“When you see his consistency in Masters 1000 events, even though he often arrives without much rhythm, it’s very impressive.

“I really hope he’s going to pull it off, come on mate.”

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Fils responded with two hands folded in prayer emojis to show his appreciation.

The 22-year-old has reached the quarter-finals or better at five of the six Masters 1000 events he has played in 2026. He was forced to retire in the second round in Rome, but has also been a semi-finalist in Miami and Madrid this year. He is currently ranked No. 21.

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