World number one Jannik Sinner has confirmed that he will miss this year's US Open after suffering a persistent right‑knee injury. The Italian star, who has been absent from competition since his Wimbledon triumph last month, announced that his recovery timetable will not allow him to compete on the hard courts of Flushing Meadows.
Sinner's last appearance on the tour came at Wimbledon, where he captured his fifth Grand Slam title by defeating Alexander Zverev in a hard‑fought final and successfully defending his championship at the All England Club. Following that victory he was forced to sit out the two Masters 1000 events in Canada and Cincinnati. In Cincinnati he actually entered the draw but withdrew after experiencing a flare‑up of the knee problem, opting to focus on a careful rehabilitation rather than risk aggravating the issue.
In a heartfelt statement posted on social media, the 2024 champion explained the situation: "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 arrives just a day after his closest rival, Spain's Carlos Alcaraz, revealed that he will return from a four‑month wrist injury lay‑off. Alcaraz, who lost to Sinner in the Wimbledon final a year ago, is now the highest‑ranked player left in the men’s draw and will be aiming for his third US Open crown. The tournament, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports from August 30, now features a reshuffled field: Spain’s Carlos Taberner has taken the spot vacated by Sinner, while other emerging talents will have a chance to make a deeper run.
The news has sparked a wave of commentary from former players and analysts. Former British No. 1 Annabel Croft told Sky Sports' Gigi Salmon that Sinner’s absence is "quite a shock".
She noted that while the Italian had been missing the last two events, the original intention was to use that time to arrive at the US Open fully fit. "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, adding that the situation highlights the grueling physical demands of the modern tour. Croft went on to reflect on the broader context of the players' workloads. She recalled how Alcaraz, earlier in the season, had produced an extraordinary run of five consecutive Masters 1000 titles—a feat that seemed almost superhuman.
Yet that same relentless schedule left him short of steam at Roland‑Garros, where he fell short of a potential French Open title. After bouncing back at Wimbledon, his body again showed signs of fatigue, culminating in the current injury setbacks for both Alcaraz and Sinner. "For all of these players it's such a difficult balance. You keep trying to play the tour, play the mandatory events but you also want to peak at the Grand Slams and it's not quite happening at the moment," she observed.
Former world No. 40 Ryan Harrison echoed the sentiment, suggesting that the risk of pushing Sinner into a high‑intensity event like the US Open outweighed any potential reward.
"Sinner feels the risk of playing the US Open is a little bit too much," Harrison said. The rivalry between Alcaraz and Sinner has become a central storyline for tennis fans, reminiscent of classic match‑ups in other sports. Croft remarked that it has been a while since the two have been placed in the same draw, noting that their head‑to‑head clashes have become "the new rivalry that everyone wants to see." She compared the anticipation to a major boxing bout, where spectators crave the clash of the very best.
With Sinner out, the spotlight now shifts to the next tier of talent, offering a chance for emerging players to step into the limelight during a transitional phase for the sport. As the US Open draws near, the tournament will proceed without its top‑seeded Italian, but the excitement remains high.
Fans can still enjoy a packed schedule of matches, including Alcaraz’s quest for a third title, live coverage on Sky Sports, and streaming options via NOW. Meanwhile, the broader tennis community will be watching closely to see how the injuries and withdrawals of two of the game’s brightest stars will influence the narrative of the season and what it means for player health management going forward.