World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner will arrive in New York without having played the Canadian Open or Cincinnati Masters, a feat unseen since 1990. The duo now aims to break a decades‑long US Open statistic that no player has won after skipping both warm‑up events.

Key Takeaways

  • Alcaraz and Sinner have withdrawn from both the Canadian Open and Cincinnati Masters.
  • No male singles champion has won the US Open after skipping these two tournaments since 1990.
  • Both players are managing recent injuries, making preparation a major challenge.

Why the Top Two Skipped the Traditional Tune‑Ups?

World No. 1 Jannik Sinner pulled out of the Cincinnati Masters due to a lingering knee issue. “After consulting with my doctors and my team, I have to announce that I need to withdraw from the Masters 1000 tournament in Cincinnati,” he said.

Carlos Alcaraz, still recovering from a wrist injury that kept him out since April, chose to miss Cincinnati as a precautionary measure while building toward the US Open.

Historical Background

Since 1990, no male singles player has captured the US Open title after skipping both the Canadian Open and the Cincinnati Masters. In 2024, Sinner won Cincinnati before clinching his first US Open crown, and Alcaraz repeated the feat in 2025, beating Sinner in the final.

Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that skipping the traditional tune‑up events could disrupt match rhythm, increasing the risk of early‑round upsets at the US Open. Both players rely heavily on competitive hard‑court exposure, and the lack thereof may level the playing field for dark‑horse contenders.

“Without recent match play, even the best‑ranked players can find themselves out of sync with the fast‑pace of New York courts,” says former ATP coach Marco Silva.
Did You Know?: Only five players have won the US Open after skipping both warm‑up events since 1990, and all of them eventually faced early‑round challenges.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will Alcaraz and Sinner return to Cincinnati next year? Both have indicated they plan to compete once fully fit, but no official commitments have been made.

Can skipping these tournaments affect their US Open performance? Experts warn that limited match practice may increase the chance of early exits, though focused training could mitigate the risk.

Editor Comment

Editor Comment: Alcaraz and Sinner’s strategic withdrawals rewrite the playbook for Grand Slam preparation—balancing injury management against the loss of competitive rhythm. Their gamble highlights that winning a major is as much about timing as talent.