US Open: Cheerful Jannik Sinner returns to practice after Cincinnati heartbreak

World No.1 Jannik Sinner returned to practice at Arthur Ashe Stadium just two days after withdrawing from the Cincinnati Open final against Carlos Alcaraz. The Italian star looked relaxed and smiling on court, a reassuring sign for his team and fans that he is fit again and ready to defend his US Open crown.

In Cincinnati, Sinner was trailing 0-5 in the final when he called for the physio and soon retired, handing Alcaraz an easy win. His coach, Darren Cahill, later confirmed that the Italian had been struggling with a virus.

To give himself enough time to recover fully ahead of his singles campaign in New York, Sinner also skipped the mixed doubles event earlier this week.

Fans react to Sinner’s appearance at the Ashe

Seeing him back on court for practice lifted the spirits of many fans, with one supporter posting, “Welcome back, Jannik Sinner! After a tough loss in Cincinnati, it’s great to see you back on Arthur Ashe with that winning smile.”

Sinner’s coach, Darren Cahill, confirmed that the World No. 1 had been battling a virus. To ensure he was fully fit for his US Open singles campaign, Sinner also withdrew from the mixed doubles competition earlier this week.

Not everyone, however, was convinced. Some fans questioned the nature of his illness, suggesting it was merely a cover for Carlos Alcaraz’s dominance in the Cincinnati final. One critical fan wrote, “Does not look sick to me. You can’t recover that fast from a sickness.”

Jannik Sinner returns to health in time

Sinner is back in shape at the right time, with the US Open draws now revealed. The World No. 1 opens his campaign against Vit Kopriva, and as the top seed, he has the advantage of avoiding the toughest opponents until the later rounds.

Still, the path won’t be entirely smooth. A potential fourth-round clash looms against either Tommy Paul or Alexander Bublik, while the quarterfinals could pit him against Jack Draper or Lorenzo Musetti. If he advances, Sinner may face Alexander Zverev or Alex de Minaur in the semi-finals.

On the other side of the draw, Carlos Alcaraz waits as a possible final opponent—offering Sinner the chance at a highly anticipated rematch.

If Sinner lifts the trophy in New York, he would become the seventh man in history to win three majors in a single year, having already triumphed at the Australian Open and Wimbledon. Novak Djokovic previously achieved this feat in 2011 and 2015.