Brazilian tennis player João Fonseca officially announced his withdrawal from the Masters 1000 in Cincinnati on the night of August 17, 2026. The reason given for the athlete’s decision, who was scheduled to take the court the following day, was discomfort in the abdominal area.
“During today’s training, I noticed a slight discomfort on the left side of my abdomen. After undergoing tests, my team and I chose not to compete in Cincinnati, aiming for an agile recovery. I thank the fans for their hospitality and support. I hope to be back next year”, declared João Fonseca, who currently occupies 26th position in the ATP rankings.
The championship, played on fast courts in Ohio, served as the last preparation before the US Open, the fourth and final Grand Slam of the year. Fonseca, who had the 23rd seed, guaranteed his place directly in the second phase. At this stage, on August 16, the Brazilian tennis player beat the Dutch Botic van de Zandschulp by 2 sets to 0, with scores of 6/4 and 7/6 (2). If he continued in the tournament, he would have an unprecedented clash in the round of 16 against Australian Christopher O’Connell, who is ranked 129th in the world.
This is the third time in 2026 that Fonseca has needed to adjust his tournament schedule due to health issues, which raises a warning about the regularity of his performance. This recurrence of injuries is a factor that can impact his rise on the circuit and preparation for major events. Previously in the season, he withdrew from the ATP 250 in Brisbane and Adelaide, in addition to missing the Davis Cup due to a lower back injury, which delayed his participation in the Australian Open, where he fell in the first round. In June, another discomfort, this time in his shoulder, kept him out of the ATP 250 in Eastbourne, England, a tournament in which he was second seed.
Despite these interruptions, João Fonseca’s overall performance in 2026 remains favorable, with 19 wins and 13 losses recorded. Among these triumphs, 10 were achieved in Masters 1000 competitions, a notable feat that places him alongside Gustavo Kuerten, who reached the same mark in 2003. Furthermore, he is the 15th tennis player with the highest accumulated score in these events.
The Brazilian tennis player still has six relevant commitments scheduled for the remainder of 2026, in addition to the Cincinnati Masters 1000 and the next Grand Slam:
- US Open (August 23 to September 13)
- Davis Cup – Brazil against Switzerland, in Rio de Janeiro (18 and 19 September)
- ATP 500 Tokyo (September 30th to October 6th)
- Shanghai Masters 1000 (October 7-18)
- Basel ATP 500 (October 26th to November 1st)
- Paris Masters 1000 (November 2nd to 8th)
