As the tennis world gears up for the final Grand Slam of the year, all eyes are on Jannik Sinner and his fitness.
The Italian star, currently ranked World No. 1, was forced to retire just 23 minutes into the Cincinnati Masters final earlier this week, raising alarm bells only days before the U.S. Open begins.
Sinner had been riding a wave of momentum since his Wimbledon triumph in July, looking sharp throughout the summer hard court swing.
But in Cincinnati, facing rival Carlos Alcaraz in their latest clash, the Italian appeared uncharacteristically sluggish. His serve lacked bite, his consistency faltered, and his usually relentless baseline game broke down quickly.
Alcaraz wasted no time exploiting the situation, racing out to a commanding 5-0 lead. Sinner called for a doctor during the changeover but was visibly struggling and retired soon after, handing the Spaniard the trophy.
Sinner’s camp offers encouraging news
The abrupt retirement immediately sparked concerns about Sinner’s availability for Flushing Meadows. However, his team has since provided an encouraging update.
Darren Cahill, ESPN analyst and part of Sinner’s coaching staff, revealed that the 23-year-old’s condition is improving.
“I spoke to him briefly last night. He was feeling a bit better last night,” Cahill said, per Adam Zagoria of Forbes Sports. “He will take today off as well, that’s the plan, and hopefully get on the court tomorrow and start hitting a few balls… We are confident he’s going to be fine.”
According to Cahill, Sinner was suffering from a virus that began after his semifinal win over French qualifier Terence Atmane. Up until that point, the Italian had cruised through the draw without dropping a set, underlining his dominance on hard courts.
The update is a welcome relief for Sinner’s fans and troubling news for the rest of the field. The defending U.S. Open champion has been nearly untouchable on hard surfaces, boasting a staggering 65-4 record in 2024.
Three of those four defeats came against Alcaraz, with the other against Andrey Rublev earlier this month.
A heavy favorite in New York
Sinner’s recent record makes him the clear favorite heading into New York, provided he is fully fit. He has won the last three hard court majors, including last year’s U.S. Open where he defeated American Taylor Fritz in the final.
His ability to raise his level in best-of-five matches has been a defining factor in his rise to the top.
With the draw set to be unveiled Thursday afternoon, Sinner will soon learn his path to defending his crown. If his recovery continues as expected, the Italian could once again be the man to beat under the lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium.
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