World No. 1 Jannik Sinner withdraws from Cincinnati Open

Jannik Sinner, the ATP’s No. 1 ranked player, has withdrawn from the Cincinnati Open, the tournament announced on Sunday.

Sinner, who won the Cincinnati Open in 2024, withdrew due to a right knee injury. He also did not play in the ongoing National Bank Open in Montreal, last competing at July’s Wimbledon championships which he won.

“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, per a tournament release. “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.”

With Sinner out, this means that both of the 2025 Cincinnati Open finalists will not be playing the tournament this year. On Aug. 7, world No. 3 and 2025 champion Carlos Alcaraz withdrew from Cincinnati, as he continues to recover from the wrist injury he suffered in April. In 2025, Alcaraz defeated Sinner in the Cincinnati final after Sinner retired toward the end of the first set.

Sinner and Alcaraz have been the two most successful players on tour, winning 10 of the last 11 Grand Slams contested since the start of 2024. In 2026, Sinner has also been the most dominant player in men’s tennis, winning every major ATP 1000 tournament and Grand Slam since March besides the French Open. He likely would have been the heavy favorite to win Cincinnati.

Without Sinner and Alcaraz, the highest-seeded player in the men’s draw will be No. 2 Alexander Zverev, this year’s winner of the French Open. Following him will be world No. 4 Felix Auger-Aliassime.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: World No. 1 Jannik Sinner withdraws from Cincinnati Open