World No. 1 Jannik Sinner has announced that he will not be participating in this year’s US Open after suffering a persistent right‑knee injury. The Italian star has been sidelined since his triumph at Wimbledon, where he captured his fifth Grand Slam title by defeating Alexander Zverev in a hard‑fought final and successfully defending his crown at the All England Club. Following his Wimbledon victory, Sinner missed the Canadian and Cincinnati Masters events.
He withdrew from the Cincinnati tournament specifically because of the same knee problem, hoping to give his body enough time to recover before the hard‑court season in New York. Unfortunately, after a brief return to practice on the courts in Monte Carlo, his medical team concluded that his knee still required additional healing time, forcing him to forgo the US Open entirely. In a heartfelt statement posted to his social media accounts, the 2024 champion explained: “Even though I have been working hard with my team and my medical staff, we have now had to make the difficult decision that I will not be able to compete at the US Open this year. We have been back on court in Monte Carlo over the last couple of days and have realised that I still need more time to recover from my right knee issue.
I’m obviously very sad and disappointed, as New York has a special place in my heart. I was very much looking forward to coming back and playing in the electric atmosphere in front of the great fans there.” Sinner’s withdrawal comes just a day after his chief rival, Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, revealed that he will return from a four‑month wrist injury lay‑off. Alcaraz, who defeated Sinner in the 2023 US Open final, is now the highest‑ranked player still competing in the tournament despite his own recent health concerns. The Italian’s exit opens a spot in the men’s singles draw for Spain’s Carlos Taberner, and it also reshapes the seedings and potential match‑ups for the remainder of the event.
Alcaraz, who is chasing his third US Open title, will now face a field that lacks its other marquee contender. He first lifted the trophy in 2022, a win that propelled him to the world No. 1 ranking, and he added a second US Open crown in September of the previous year.
With Sinner out, former British No. 1 Annabel Croft told Sky Sports’ Gigi Salmon that the news was “quite a shock.” She noted that while everyone understood Sinner had been resting after missing the two Masters events, the intention had always been to be ready for New York. “It’s a big blow to tennis because it feels like a long time ago that we had Alcaraz and Sinner in the events together and it feels like a great loss,” Croft said.
Croft also highlighted the grueling nature of the modern tour. She reflected on Sinner’s extraordinary run earlier in the season, when he captured five consecutive Masters 1000 titles—a feat that few players have ever achieved. However, the relentless schedule left him with limited reserves heading into Roland‑Garros, where he fell short of the French Open title. He rebounded spectacularly at Wimbledon, building momentum match by match, only to see his body betray him again with the knee issue that now forces his US Open absence.
Former world No. 40 Ryan Harrison added a concise perspective, stating that “Sinner feels the risk of playing the US Open is a little bit too much,” underscoring the careful risk‑assessment athletes must make when their health is at stake. The rivalry between Sinner and Alcaraz has become one of the most compelling storylines in contemporary tennis. Croft remarked that it has been “a long time since we had them in the same draw,” and she likened their clashes to a major boxing bout—fans eagerly anticipate seeing the best face off.
With Sinner out, the spotlight now shifts to the next tier of players, offering them a chance to shine on tennis’s biggest American stage. Looking ahead, the tennis community will watch how Alcaraz navigates the tournament without his chief competitor, and whether the gap left by Sinner will be filled by emerging talents eager to make a name for themselves.
The US Open will continue to be broadcast live on Sky Sports from August 30, with streaming options available through NOW and other platforms. Despite the disappointment surrounding Sinner’s withdrawal, the event promises high‑quality matches, compelling narratives, and the ever‑present drama that makes Grand Slam tennis a global spectacle.