World No. 1 Jannik Sinner has announced that he will not take part in this year’s US Open after suffering a right‑knee injury. The Italian star has been absent from competition since his triumph at Wimbledon last month, where he secured his fifth Grand Slam title by defeating Alexander Zverev in a hard‑fought final and successfully defending his All England Club crown.
Following his Wimbledon victory, Sinner skipped the Canadian Masters 1000 event in Montreal and later withdrew from the Cincinnati Masters, also citing the same knee problem. He had hoped to recover in time for the hard‑court showdown at Flushing Meadows, but recent medical assessments confirmed that he needs a longer rehabilitation period, forcing him to miss the New York tournament entirely. In a heartfelt post 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 chief rival, Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, disclosed that he will return from a four‑month wrist injury lay‑off.
Alcaraz, who beat Sinner in the US Open final a year ago, is now the highest‑ranked male player still competing, and he will be aiming for his third title in New York. The tournament will therefore lose one of its two marquee match‑ups, leaving Alcaraz as the sole headline act.
The Italian’s spot in the men’s singles draw has been filled by Spain’s Carlos Taberner, who moves into the field as a direct replacement. Taberner’s inclusion does little to ease the disappointment felt by fans and commentators alike, who had anticipated a thrilling showdown between the two young titans.
Former British No. 1 Annabel Croft, speaking to Sky Sports’ Gigi Salmon, described the news as a "big shock": "We knew he hadn't played the last couple of events and he was resting, but the whole idea was to get ready for the US Open. It's a huge blow to tennis because it feels like a long time ago that we had Alcaraz and Sinner in the same events together, and it feels like a great loss." Croft went on to highlight the grueling nature of the modern tour: "It underlines how relentless and demanding the circuit is physically.
When you think back to the start of the year, when he won five consecutive Masters 1000 titles – an absolutely exceptional and phenomenal achievement – but then at Roland‑Garros his tank was almost empty, costing him perhaps the French Open title. He bounced back at Wimbledon, building momentum match by match, yet his body let him down again. 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." Former world No. 40 Ryan Harrison added his perspective, noting that the risk of aggravating the injury was simply too high for Sinner to take a chance at the US Open. Croft also reflected on the emerging rivalry between Sinner and Alcaraz, saying: "It's been a long time since we had them in the same draw. They have become the new rivalry that everyone wants to see.
I really don't mind watching the same players compete all the time because those are the matches you truly look forward to. It's like watching a big boxing fight – you want to see the very best go up against each other. Now it's an opportunity for the next category down to shine. It's an interesting transitional period at the moment.
Who knows what will happen when we get them all back together again?" The US Open will still feature a strong field, with Alcaraz poised to chase his third title after winning his first Grand Slam in New York in 2022 and adding a second in September 2023. The tournament will be broadcast live on Sky Sports from August 30, and fans can also stream matches via NOW and other platforms. Sinner’s decision serves as a reminder of the physical toll that elite tennis exacts on its top competitors. While his absence is a disappointment for spectators and a strategic setback for the tournament, it also underscores the importance of player health and the need for adequate recovery time after a demanding season.
The tennis world will now watch closely as Sinner focuses on rehabilitation, hoping to return stronger for the next swing of the Grand Slam calendar.