Double Blow for Cincinnati: Why Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner Have Withdrawn
The 2026 Cincinnati Open main draw kicks off at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio, running from August 13 through August 23. However, the tournament’s men’s singles draw suffered a double blow before a single main-draw ball was struck. Both Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner—the tournament’s previous two champions—have officially withdrawn due to injury.
Their absences reshape the field for the summer’s final ATP Masters 1000 event, giving rivals like Alexander Zverev and Novak Djokovic a prime opportunity to build momentum ahead of the US Open.
Carlos Alcaraz: Persistent Wrist Injury Forces Continued Absence
Carlos Alcaraz’s withdrawal was announced first on August 4, 2026. The 23-year-old Spaniard, currently holding the World No. 2 spot in the PIF ATP Rankings, continues his recovery from a ongoing wrist injury.
Alcaraz hasn’t competed on tour since April 2026, when he played at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell following a runner-up finish at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters. Before his injury hiatus, Alcaraz was putting together a banner season:
- Season Record: 22-3 overall record on the tour.
- Titles: Two tour-level titles this season.
- Career Milestone: Completed his Career Grand Slam by winning the Australian Open in Melbourne earlier in the year—the final major title missing from his resume.
Alcaraz entered Cincinnati as the defending champion, having lifted the trophy at the event in 2025. His withdrawal extends his spell on the sidelines as his team focuses on full recovery before the final major of the year.
Jannik Sinner: Right Knee Issue Sidelining the Italian World No. 1
Five days after Alcaraz’s announcement, 2024 Cincinnati champion Jannik Sinner officially withdrew on August 9, 2026, citing a right knee injury.
Sinner made the difficult decision following consultation with his medical staff:
“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 shared. “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.”
Sinner’s withdrawal comes in the middle of a dominant campaign:
- Career Golden Masters: Swept the first five ATP Masters 1000 titles of the season, culminating in Rome where he joined Novak Djokovic as only the second player in history to complete the Career Golden Masters.
- Grand Slam Success: Captured his fifth career major title at Wimbledon, defeating Alexander Zverev in the final to advance his Lexus ATP Head2Head record against the German to 11-4.
- Cincinnati History: Holds a 12-4 career record in Cincinnati, anchored by his title run in 2024.
Sinner expressed disappointment over missing the tournament but confirmed his immediate focus is shifts toward getting healthy and prepared for the upcoming US Open.
What It Means for the Cincinnati Open Draw
With Alcaraz (2025 champion) and Sinner (2024 champion) out of the field, the 2026 Cincinnati Open men’s draw opens up significantly. World-class contenders including Alexander Zverev, Novak Djokovic, Felix Auger-Aliassime, and Daniil Medvedev will lead the field in Mason as players gear up for the hard-court action leading into New York.
