A prominent Italian tennis voice has discussed the prospect of Jannik Sinner recovering from a knee injury in time to play the 2026 US Open.
Sinner’s last match was his four-set win over Alexander Zverev in the Wimbledon final on 12 July, which saw him capture his fifth Grand Slam title.
The world No 1 missed the Canadian Open, which was not entirely unexpected given he chose to skip it in 2025, but he then raised concerns by pulling out of the Cincinnati Open.
The Italian star explained he withdrew from the Masters 1000 event in Cincinnati due to a right knee problem.
“After consulting with my doctors and my team, I have to announce that I need to withdraw from the Masters 1000 tournament in Cincinnati,” the 25-year-old 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.
It was reported last week that Sinner had undergone shockwave therapy treatment on his knee at JMedical in Turin.
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Sinner is yet to give an update on his fitness, and there are questions over whether he will play the US Open, which will begin on 30 August.
Guido Monaco, a former Italian player who is now a commentator and analyst for Eurosport, cast doubt over Sinner competing at Flushing Meadows.
“I’m not so sure about Sinner. It’s just a feeling. I don’t want to worry anyone or give anyone false hope,” Monaco told OA Sport.
“If he’s been going to JMedical often for treatment, the Monte Carlo-Turin trip isn’t exactly a short one. So I think he didn’t play during the treatment days.
“You also go to JMedical for treatment, but in the meantime you have a chance to continue your training, but if you have an inflamed knee, there’s not much you can do with the lower part.
“If he and his doctors and his physiotherapists think that playing on hard courts at this moment will worsen the situation, Sinner won’t go. And I was saying this before, I’m not so sure he’ll play.
“He’ll probably leave too, but maybe we’ll find out in New York. I’m starting to think that for him and for Alcaraz, we’ll find out a little later whether they’ll play or not, it’s not a given that they’ll start the same way.”
Monaco added: “If you have inflammation, hard courts are the worst from a certain point of view.
“I don’t think the lack of competitions is a big issue. It’s a bit of an issue because if he’s so much stronger, he plays a few matches before the tournament and then the first rounds, he usually has room to grow and can find his form.
“He won Wimbledon, so I don’t think he’s having a bad mood or confidence level. He’s had his vacation, he’s rested.
“But over time, you’ll see that these breaks, which bother us a bit now because we’d like to see him all the time, will be a blessing when he wins these big tournaments again after he’s thirty.”
