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 crown by defeating Alexander Zverev in a hard‑fought final and successfully defending his title at the All England Club. Following his Wimbledon victory, Sinner missed the two Masters 1000 events in Canada (Toronto) and Cincinnati.
He withdrew from the Cincinnati tournament after aggravating the same knee problem, hoping to recover in time for the hard‑court Grand Slam in New York. Unfortunately, his medical team has now confirmed that he will be unable to compete at Flushing Meadows.
In a heartfelt post on social media, 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 one 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 US Open final a year ago, is now the highest‑ranked player still in the draw and will be aiming for his third title in New York, having already lifted the trophy in 2022 and again last September. The ripple effect of Sinner’s exit was immediate: Spain’s Carlos Taberner was moved into the men’s singles field to fill the vacancy, while the tournament’s seedings were reshuffled. Novak Djokovic, for example, will only claim the fourth seed if Flavio Cobolli and Taylor Fritz fail to reach the Cincinnati final.
Commentators have weighed in on the significance of the loss. Former British No. 1 Annabel Croft told Sky Sports’ Gigi Salmon: "It’s quite a shock, to be honest.
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 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 added that the situation underscores how physically demanding the tour has become. "When you think back to the start of the year, when he won five consecutive Masters 1000 titles – an absolutely exceptional achievement – his body seemed unstoppable.
Yet at Roland‑Garros there was little left in the tank, and that may have cost him the French Open. He bounced back at Wimbledon, building momentum match by match, but once again his body let him down.
For all of these players it’s a difficult balance: you want to play the mandatory tour events, but you also need to peak at the Grand Slams, and right now that balance isn’t happening." Former world No. 40 Ryan Harrison echoed the sentiment, noting that the risk of aggravating the injury outweighed the reward of competing in New York.
"Sinner feels the risk of playing the US Open is a little bit too much," he said. Croft also highlighted the emerging rivalry between Sinner and Alcaraz, describing it as the kind of marquee matchup fans crave. "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 don’t mind watching the same top players repeatedly because those are the matches you really look forward to. It’s like watching a big boxing fight – you want the very best to go head‑to‑head. With Sinner out, it’s an opportunity for the next tier to shine, and we’re in a transitional period.
Who knows what will happen when they’re back together again?" The US Open will still be broadcast live on Sky Sports from August 30, with streaming options available through NOW and other platforms. While the tournament proceeds without its world‑number‑one, the narrative will shift to Alcaraz’s quest for a third title, the performances of rising stars such as Felix Auger‑Aliassime and Carlos Taberner, and the ever‑present question of how injuries will shape the remainder of the season.
In summary, Jannik Sinner’s decision to sit out the US Open is a disappointment for both the player and his fans, but it reflects a prudent approach to long‑term health. The tennis world will watch closely as Alcaraz and his competitors vie for the championship, while hoping that Sinner can return fully recovered for the next major event on the calendar.