World No. 1 Jannik Sinner has quelled concerns surrounding a hip issue that has plagued him in recent months. The Italian star, who has been dealing with the injury since May, is eager to get back on the court and compete at the US Open tune-up tournament in Cincinnati this week.
While Sinner admitted to experiencing discomfort during his shock quarterfinal loss to Andrey Rublev in Montreal last weekend, he attributes the difficulties to the grueling nature of recent matches rather than a worsening of the injury. Sinner missed the Paris Olympics due to tonsillitis, adding to the physical challenges he has faced.
“I feel quite good,” Sinner said. “Obviously I made nearly one week without practicing before, and then after playing for two-three days in a row, a bit more than usual, (that) could (have had) a potential impact to the hip. But I’m not afraid. I feel good with the hip, and I’m just looking forward to going back on court here.”
Sinner recognizes that the Cincinnati Open presents a unique challenge due to the conditions, but sees it as a valuable test before the US Open. “Here usually I struggle a little bit to play because of the conditions but I’m looking forward to see my reaction this year, because it’s a great test,” he said. The Australian Open champion will face either Tallon Griekspoor or Alex Michelsen in his opening match.
The Cincinnati Open holds significant importance for Sinner as he aims for a strong finish to the season. “I believe this tournament can give you a lot of confidence for the U.S. Open, which is the last Grand Slam we have. So in my mind, this is a very important tournament.”
Despite the injury concerns, Sinner is confident and focused on building momentum. “We go day by day … I have a couple of days to prepare and hopefully show some good tennis.”
