Jasmine Paolini withdraws from Cincinnati Open, foot injury

Italian tennis star Jasmine Paolini has withdrawn from the upcoming Cincinnati Open as she continues to recover from a persistent foot injury, casting uncertainty over her preparation for the US Open later this month. The world No. 15 announced her decision on social media, confirming she will not defend the ranking points from her runner-up finish at the tournament last year.

Paolini has not competed since reaching the quarterfinals at Wimbledon in July. She subsequently withdrew from the WTA events in Washington, D.C., and Toronto. In a statement posted to Instagram, the 30-year-old expressed disappointment at missing the Cincinnati tournament but said her priority is returning to full fitness. "After last year's final, I was really looking forward to being back, but now the focus is on being 100% ready for the US Open and the rest of the season," Paolini wrote.

Her absence from Cincinnati carries significant ranking consequences. By not playing, Paolini will forfeit 650 points, a drop that is projected to see her fall to around 20th in the world, her lowest ranking since February 2024. This compounds a challenging season in which she has compiled a 16-13 match record while...