Jannik Sinner is close to getting back on the court after retiring from the final in Cincinnati with an illness.

Jannik Sinner’s preparations for the US Open ended in emotional scenes as he retired from the Cincinnati final after just five games and 23 minutes.

The No. 1-ranked Sinner, the defending champion in singles at Flushing Meadows, was supposed to compete in mixed doubles with Katerina Siniakova.

It was clear immediately that Jannik Sinner was not himself in Cincinnati.

No one will be getting an early glimpse at the men’s world No.1 singles player in Flushing this year, nor an 11-time Grand Slam doubles champion.

Jannik Sinner’s recovery from physical and psychological stress was outlined, easing doubts over his US Open participation after the Cincinnati setback.

Iga Swiatek and Carlos Alcaraz underlined their hard court credentials ahead of the US Open with victories over Jasmine Paolini and Jannik Sinner respectively in the women's and men's singles tournaments at the Cincinnati Open.

It felt like tennis had delivered the perfect script—world No. 1 Jannik Sinner versus world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz in a Masters 1000 final. Both had torn through the draw in Cincinnati, barely breaking a sweat, setting up the dream clash fans had been waiting for.