
August 21st, 2026
Top-ranked Jannik Sinner withdrew from the U.S. Open on Friday, unable to recover from a right knee injury that has sidelined him since winning the Wimbledon title.
Sinner emerged victorious over Alexander Zverev last month, securing his second consecutive championship at the All England Club, yet subsequently withdrew from the hard-court competitions in Montreal and Cincinnati, which are intended as preparatory fixtures for the U.S. Open.
The 25-year-old Italian, in a communiqué issued on Friday, asserted that he would be in no state to compete at the commencement of the main draw, which is slated for August 30th.
“Notwithstanding the sustained efforts I have devoted alongside my team and medical staff, we have been compelled to arrive at the arduous determination that I shall be unable to participate in the US Open this year,” Sinner articulated in a post on X.
Having returned to the courts in Monte Carlo over the past few days, we have come to recognize that my recovery from the issue with my right knee necessitates additional time.
Naturally, I am profoundly disheartened and disconsolate, for New York occupies an indelible place in my affections.
I had been eagerly anticipating my return and the opportunity to perform amidst the electrifying ambience before the city’s magnificent supporters.
Having clinched the 2024 U.S. Open title, Sinner was subsequently defeated by Carlos Alcaraz in the championship match of the previous year.
Alcaraz took to social media on Thursday to proclaim his unequivocal preparedness to compete in New York, having been sidelined from competitive play since April owing to a right wrist injury.
The rivalry between those two has come to define the upper echelons of men's tennis in recent years, culminating in their collision across the last three Grand Slam finals of 2025.
Alcaraz claimed the most recent of these with a four-set triumph in New York.
That brought Sinner's championship tenure to a close, following his straight-sets triumph over Taylor Fritz in the 2024 final.
Sinner's season record stands at 44-3, underscored by six titles.
His campaign was marred by a spectacular implosion at the French Open, where he squandered a two-set advantage and succumbed to the oppressive heat in his second-round encounter with Juan Manuel Cerundolo.
Subsequently, he remained sidelined until Wimbledon, where his triumph there brought his Grand Slam tally to five.
This marks the inaugural occasion on which Sinner has been conspicuously absent from a Grand Slam tournament, a hiatus that can be traced back to his seminal debut at the 2019 U.S. Open.
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August 21st, 2026

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