Tennis has a big problem that needs to be fixed after latest incident at the Cincinnati Open

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The ATP and WTA tours have rapidly moved on from the Canadian Open, with the Cincinnati Open now well underway.

The tournaments lead up to the US Open, the fourth Grand Slam of the season, which gets underway later this month.

And many high-profile players are taking on the Cincinnati Open in a bid to fully prepare for the major event at Flushing Meadows.

ATP number one Jannik Sinner and number two Carlos Alcaraz are involved, having both decided to skip the Canadian Open.

Sinner and Alcaraz could play the Canadian Open in 2026, but this year the pair decided to start their North American hard-court swings in Cincinnati.

ATP and WTA tours have a big problem that needs to be fixed

And that decision certainly highlighted an issue with the tennis schedule, with the duo clearly deciding that it was too early to return to the court following their Wimbledon final.

Avoiding injuries will have been high on their agenda, with their absence in Toronto allowing them to recover for Cincinnati.

READ MORE: What Carlos Alcaraz was seen doing straight after winning his first round match at the Cincinnati Open

Taking a similar decision for the latest tournament was Novak Djokovic, who was among the withdrawals for the Cincinnati Open.

Also pulling out were WTA stars Naomi Osaka and Victoria Mboko, with the pair having just played out the Canadian Open final.

The players are clearly trying to manage their schedules and fitness levels, and many have been left with no choice but to pull out of tournaments.

And that is a blow to tournament organisers and fans who would have been eager to see the biggest names in action.

Camilo Ugo Carabelli highlights ATP and WTA problem at Cincinnati Open

The ruthless schedule has now seemingly claimed another victim, with Camilo Ugo Carabelli retiring hurt during his meeting with Ben Shelton in Cincinnati.

And he isn’t the only casualty, with Marta Kostyuk pulling out of her clash with Iga Swiatek due to a wrist injury that also forced her out of the Canadian Open at the quarterfinal stage.

The problem has indeed already spilt into the US Open, with WTA ace Paula Badosa having confirmed her withdrawal from the Grand Slam.

It is, of course, too late for the ATP and WTA tours to do anything about the current schedule, but the constant and lengthy list of injuries and withdrawals must be looked at going forward.

The ruthless schedule is by no means a new issue, but the powers that be have yet to fully address the many player complaints.

WTA number one Aryna Sabalenka lamented the ‘intense’ schedule earlier this month, having also returned in Cincinnati after a lengthy break following Wimbledon.