World number one Jannik Sinner has pulled out of the US Open mixed doubles tournament, which is bad news for tennis lovers. The news comes just one day after the current US Open champion had to pull out of the Cincinnati Open final against his rival Carlos Alcaraz because he was behind 5-0 in the opening set.
The 24-year-old Italian didn’t talk to the press after his match, but he did send out a statement saying that he plans to compete in the US Open singles main draw, which starts on Sunday. “I really like Grand Slams. They are the most important tournaments for my season and my career,” Sinner said. “The US Open is going to be a tough tournament, but I’m looking forward to it if I’m ready, both physically and mentally.”
Sinner’s statement, on the other hand, didn’t say anything about his being in the mixed doubles tournament, which is a new, shorter event that brings together some of the finest singles players in the world. The event was supposed to happen on Tuesday and Wednesday. Sinner’s withdrawal, along with his playing partner Katerina Siniakova, shows that he is putting his rehabilitation ahead of his championship defense at Flushing Meadows. Danielle Collins and Christian Harrison, who are both from the area, took their place in the draw. They will now play Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic and Germany’s Alexander Zverev in the first round.
Sinner’s sudden retirement in Cincinnati, where he was trying to capture a second title in a row, ended his incredible 12-match winning streak. It also stopped an amazing 26-match winning streak on hard courts. The event has made people wonder if he is physically ready for the tough two-week Grand Slam in New York. Sinner’s team hasn’t given any precise information, but the player himself said he felt sick the day before the final and got worse on the day of the match.