Jannik Sinner faces a race to be fit in time for the US Open as the world number one contends with a knee injury which prevented his participation in the Canadian Open and Cincinnati Open.
Off the back of securing his second Wimbledon title, Sinner opted to skip the sixth ATP Masters 1000 event of the season, the Canadian Open, with the view to making his comeback in Cincinnati.
However, a flare up of a recurring knee issue prompted the Italian to withdraw from the Ohio tournament, with Sinner's main focus being the final Grand Slam of the season at the end of August.
Making regular visits to a medical centre in Turin, reports in Italy suggest Sinner is set to undergo a medical evaluation which will decide if the 25-year-old is fit enough to compete in the US Open at Flushing Meadows.
Sinner's absence from the Cincinnati Open could be viewed as a blessing in disguise for his US Open preparation as the sweltering Ohio heat impacted the competition.
Hot and humid conditions have been Sinner's kryptonite through the years, as witnessed during this year's French Open when the Italian capitulated while two sets up against Juan Manuel Cerundolo. The stifling Parisian temperatures abruptly ended Sinner's hopes of a Calendar Slam as Cerundolo prevailed in five sets.
If Sinner is deemed fit enough to feature at the US Open, last year's runner-up will have little concern about being undercooked for the tournament.
The five-time Grand Slam winner did not play a single competitive match in the lead to Wimbledon and despite a sluggish start to the tournament, Sinner evolved with each opponent he encountered before toppling Alexander Zverev in the final.
While there is optimism Sinner will be able to overcome the persistent problem in his right knee to appear at Flushing Meadows, the same cannot be said of his great rival, Carlos Alcaraz.
The Spaniard sustained a wrist injury at the Barcelona Open in April and hasn't competed since, skipping the French Open and Wimbledon.
It was hoped Alcaraz would return to defend his title in Cincinnati, but he ultimately withdrew from the Masters 1000 event. Whilst Alcaraz and his coaching team are keen to proceed with caution, the 23-year-old is chomping at the bit to make his comeback and the world number two was spotted practicing with Holger Rune in Murcia.
