The Cincinnati Open has lost another of its biggest names, with world No. 1 Jannik Sinner withdrawing from the 2026 ATP Masters 1000 event because of a right knee injury. The decision dramatically changes the tournament landscape and adds another layer of uncertainty to the men’s tennis race heading toward the US Open.
According to Reuters, Sinner said he was not ready to compete despite medical efforts and would instead concentrate on recovery. The Cincinnati main draw begins August 13, while the US Open starts August 30.
Sinner Chooses Recovery Over Another Masters Event
The withdrawal comes after Sinner also missed the Canadian Open, meaning the Italian will have no hard-court Masters preparation in Canada or Cincinnati before the year’s final Grand Slam.
Sinner is currently ranked No. 1 in the ATP rankings, with Carlos Alcaraz at No. 2 and Alexander Zverev at No. 3. The official ATP rankings remain the key reference point as players compete for position during the final stretch of the season.
Another Major Name Is Already Missing
Sinner’s withdrawal follows Carlos Alcaraz’s decision to pull out of Cincinnati because of an ongoing wrist injury. Alcaraz is the defending champion and has not competed since April, making his absence another major blow to the tournament.
The ATP’s Cincinnati tournament preview confirms the event’s status as a Masters 1000 tournament and highlights the elite field originally scheduled to compete.
What Does It Mean for the ATP Race?
The immediate ranking impact is important because Sinner was the 2025 Cincinnati runner-up and therefore had 650 points to defend. With his withdrawal, those points come off his ranking total rather than being replaced by a deeper run this year.
Alcaraz faces an even larger ranking adjustment because he won the 2025 Cincinnati title. His 1,000 championship points were at stake, making his absence particularly significant for the battle at the top.
That creates an opportunity for players such as Zverev, Novak Djokovic, Taylor Fritz and other contenders to collect valuable Masters points while the top two seeds are absent. A deep Cincinnati run could therefore have consequences well beyond the tournament itself.
The US Open Becomes the Bigger Target
For Sinner, the decision appears focused on the bigger picture. He recently won Wimbledon, his fifth Grand Slam title, and will now have additional time to address the knee issue before the US Open.
The risk is obvious: skipping Cincinnati protects his recovery but reduces competitive preparation on hard courts. The reward could be greater freshness if the knee responds well and he arrives in New York healthy.
Sinner’s Cincinnati withdrawal has transformed the Masters 1000 event and altered the points race at the top of men’s tennis. With both Sinner and defending champion Alcaraz absent, the tournament becomes a major opportunity for the chasing pack. But for Sinner, the most important race may be against the calendar—and getting healthy before the US Open.
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