Jannik Sinner set for fitness test as US Open participation hangs in balance

Sinner's decision to miss the Cincinnati Masters this week was initially claimed to be precautionary but there may be more to the story.

The Italian withdrew from this week's ATP 1000 event in Cincinnati with a knee problem and has not hit a ball in competitive action since he won the Wimbledon title in the second week of July.

"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," said Sinner, as he confirmed he would not play in Cincinnati.

The 2024 US Open champion was stepping up his practice sessions in clips shared on social media earlier this month, but those updates have dried up in recent days, fuelling speculation that his recovery has faced a setback.

Italian outlets are reporting that Sinner is preparing to complete a fitness test in the coming days, after undergoing a series of tests at the J Medical Centre in Turin, which is linked to Serie A soccer giants Juventus.

Sinner will need to fly to New York next week to acclimatise and prepare for the US Open if he is planning to play, so a decision on whether he will take part in the final Grand Slam of 2026 will need to be made over the next three or four days.

After celebrating his 25th birthday on Sunday, the best present Sinner will be hoping for is a quick recovery so he can push to win another Grand Slam title to add to the Wimbledon crown he collected last month.

Meanwhile, the action continued in Cincinnati on Monday, with top seed Alexander Zverev - who will emerge as the US Open favourite if Sinner withdraws - advancing to the last 16 with a straight-sets win over Frenchman Terence Atmane.

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