Sinner's health comes into focus ahead of US Open
The Italian looked off from the outset of his match against rival Carlos Alcaraz and, after quickly falling behind 5-0 in the first set, retired from the match, saying he "didn't feel great" and apologising to the disappointed fans in Ohio.
Tennis World USA reported that Sinner was battling a high fever and flu symptoms the night before and during his match with Alcaraz.
Sinner also mentioned the punishing heat and humidity during his match against Alcaraz, calling it "one of the hottest tournaments we played". He then announced that he had withdrawn prior to his U.S. Open mixed doubles match on Tuesday.
How quickly the 24-year-old can bounce back from his illness will have major implications for the final Grand Slam tournament of the year.
Sinner and world number two Alcaraz have separated themselves from the pack, having won the last seven major titles between them.
While Sinner has compiled a stellar 31-4 win-loss record this year, three of those defeats have come at the hands of the Spaniard, who rolls into Flushing Meadows with a ton of momentum and a chance to grab the world number one ranking from Sinner.
Prior to Monday's final, Sinner looked unstoppable, not dropping a set in his first tournament since winning Wimbledon for his fourth Grand Slam title in July.
"I feel like it was a very positive week," Sinner, who won the Cincinnati title last year, said on Monday.
"Making finals of a Masters event, it's always an amazing achievement. So we'll keep going, keep pushing. I have some points where I need to improve if I want to go far in the U.S. Open. And it was a good test this week, trying to understand where my level is."
He said his focus was firmly on the biggest stages the sport has to offer.
"I love Grand Slams a lot. These are the main tournaments for my season and for my career," he said.
"So U.S. Open is going to be a tough tournament, but at the same time, I'm looking forward to it. If I'm ready, physically and mentally, I will be ready to push.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNA
5 hours ago
- CNA
Baseball-MLB greats warn lockout or strike would derail sport's momentum
BEVERLY HILLS :A work stoppage stemming from a lockout or strike would damage Major League Baseball just as the sport is enjoying renewed growth in revenue and popularity, two of the game's all-time greats said. The current collective bargaining agreement between MLB and the MLB Players Association expires Dec. 1, 2026. Some owners have floated a salary cap - MLB is the only major men's North American league without one - a proposal players oppose, raising the prospect of a labor dispute ahead of the 2027 season. "It'd be bad, because I've been through every one of them," Dusty Baker, who managed for 26 seasons and debuted as a player in the strike-hit 1972 season, told Reuters at a charity event in Beverly Hills, California last weekend. "Very rarely does anything good come out of a lockout or a strike. So I'm hoping that they settle it." Sammy Sosa, who hit 609 home runs during his career, good for ninth on the all-time list, said he thought there was plenty of time for the sides to resolve their differences. "It's all about the contract, and I think they're going to have time to set up everything," he said on the red carpet for the Harold and Carole Pump Foundation dinner, a fundraiser for cancer research and treatment. "Both sides are talking about the dollar signs, but I believe that they're going to be able to agree at some point." Asked whether a salary cap would be good for baseball, Sosa said he doubted it. "I don't think so," he said. Phillies' Bryce Harper had a heated confrontation, according to media reports, with MLB commissioner Rob Manfred inside the Phillies' clubhouse last month about a potential salary cap. MLB's gross revenues hit a record $12.1 billion in 2024, a 4.3 per cent growth from the previous year and up 15.2 per cent from 2012 on the back of its lucrative media rights, a growth in sponsorships and rising attendance, according to Forbes. "Hopefully, they can agree," Sosa said.
Straits Times
6 hours ago
- Straits Times
Sinner to start U.S. Open against Kopriva, Sabalenka faces tricky test
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: Aug 16, 2025; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Jannik Sinner (ITA) returns a shot against Terence Atmane (FRA) during the Cincinnati Open at the Lindner Family Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images/ File Photo Defending champion Jannik Sinner, who has been recovering from illness, received a more favourable route to the U.S. Open final than Carlos Alcaraz while Aryna Sabalenka will be tested in her bid to retain her title after the draw was made on Thursday. Top seed Sinner's health has come into focus since he withdrew from the Cincinnati final on Monday while trailing Carlos Alcaraz 5-0. He later withdrew from the since-completed mixed doubles event in New York. Sinner, who increased his Grand Slam tally to four with wins at this year's Australian Open and Wimbledon, will open against Czech Vit Kopriva and could face fifth seed Jack Draper in the quarter-finals, third seed Alexander Zverev in the semis and Alcaraz in the final. Reigning French Open champion Alcaraz, in a stacked bottom half of the draw, will begin against American Reilly Opelka and his road to the final could include a quarter-final clash with Ben Shelton and fourth seed Taylor Fritz in the semi-final. Four-times champion Novak Djokovic, seeded seventh, will start against Learner Tien and could face Frances Tiafoe in the fourth round and fourth-seeded Fritz in the quarters before a blockbuster semi-final against Alcaraz. In the women's draw, top seed Sabalenka will begin against Rebeka Masarova and her fortnight could include a quarter-final date with Cincinnati finalist Jasmine Paolini and a semi-final match with Jessica Pegula. Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek, fresh off winning her tune-up event in Cincinnati, could face Amanda Anisimova in the quarters. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Courier tip-off leads to HSA seizure of Kpods, drugs in Tampines and Grange Road raids Singapore Large flocks of parakeets a spectacle in Choa Chu Kang, but they may affect native species Singapore Singapore students shine in Paris with record medal haul at history Olympiad Singapore Teacher charged over allegedly making student undress in video call, sending her his nude photo Singapore Painting by police NSF presented to Shanmugam to commemorate 50 years of Police National Service Business 8 more active ETFs by JPMorgan Asset Management available to Singapore investors Business Changi Travel Services cuts 30 staff amid market shifts Asia HK water scandal: How distrust over China bottled water sparked a probe into govt contract French Open champion Coco Gauff, the third seed, could face sixth seed and fellow American Madison Keys, who won this year's Australian Open, in the quarter-finals before a possible date with Swiatek. REUTERS
CNA
6 hours ago
- CNA
Sinner to start US Open against Kopriva, Sabalenka faces tricky test
Defending champion Jannik Sinner, who has been recovering from illness, received a more favourable route to the U.S. Open final than Carlos Alcaraz while Aryna Sabalenka will be tested in her bid to retain her title after the draw was made on Thursday. Top seed Sinner's health has come into focus since he withdrew from the Cincinnati final on Monday while trailing Carlos Alcaraz 5-0. He later withdrew from the since-completed mixed doubles event in New York. Sinner, who increased his Grand Slam tally to four with wins at this year's Australian Open and Wimbledon, will open against Czech Vit Kopriva and could face fifth seed Jack Draper in the quarter-finals, third seed Alexander Zverev in the semis and Alcaraz in the final. Reigning French Open champion Alcaraz, in a stacked bottom half of the draw, will begin against American Reilly Opelka and his road to the final could include a quarter-final clash with Ben Shelton and fourth seed Taylor Fritz in the semi-final. Four-times champion Novak Djokovic, seeded seventh, will start against Learner Tien and could face Frances Tiafoe in the fourth round and fourth-seeded Fritz in the quarters before a blockbuster semi-final against Alcaraz. In the women's draw, top seed Sabalenka will begin against Rebeka Masarova and her fortnight could include a quarter-final date with Cincinnati finalist Jasmine Paolini and a semi-final match with Jessica Pegula. Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek, fresh off winning her tune-up event in Cincinnati, could face Amanda Anisimova in the quarters. French Open champion Coco Gauff, the third seed, could face sixth seed and fellow American Madison Keys, who won this year's Australian Open, in the quarter-finals before a possible date with Swiatek.
