Sinner keeps elbow sleeve in Cincinnati as he aims for US Open

World No. 1 Jannik Sinner is continuing to wear an arm sleeve on court as he continues his run at the Cincinnati Masters, a piece of clothing he first trialed at Wimbledon after a slip that left his elbow in discomfort. Sinner has since moved through the week in impressive form, including a brisk win over Daniel Elahi Galan and a straight-sets victory against Gabriel Diallo to reach the quarterfinals, and he reaffirmed that the sleeve is a practical aid rather than a fashion statement as he prepares for a key stretch ahead of the US Open.

The sleeve’s origin lies in a Wimbledon match when Sinner slipped on Centre Court and landed awkwardly on his elbow. Although he recovered to take that match to a late stage, the episode prompted him to adopt the sleeve for subsequent rounds, including the quarterfinals, semifinals, and final those two weeks ago. He described the elbow as good and explained that the sleeve gives him “a little bit more impact with the ball” and greater stability. He noted that the decision is partly influenced by conditions, acknowledging that heat and humidity could alter how the sleeve feels, but stressing that the current arrangement suits him well and has...