World No. 1 Jannik Sinner announced Friday that he is withdrawing from the US Open with a right knee injury, leaving tennis's final Grand Slam of the year without one of its biggest stars. The 25-year-old Italian said in a post on X that despite working with his team and medical staff, he needs more time to recover and will not compete in New York.
«We have been back on court in Monte Carlo over the last couple of days and have realized that I still need more time to recover from my right knee issue,» Sinner wrote. «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 defeated Alexander Zverev to win Wimbledon last month but has not played since. He also pulled out of hard-court tournaments in Montreal and Cincinnati, both of which serve as warm-ups for the US Open. The withdrawal marks the first time Sinner has missed a Grand Slam since making his major debut at the US Open in 2019.
Sinner won the US Open in 2024 and reached the final last year before losing to Carlos Alcaraz. He is in the midst of a dominant season, posting a 44-3 record with six titles in 2026. His victory at Wimbledon gave him five Grand Slam titles overall, though his year also included a stunning collapse at the French Open, where he blew a two-set lead while struggling in the heat in his second-round match against Juan Manuel Cerundolo.
While Sinner is out, US Open fans will still see the return of Carlos Alcaraz, who has been sidelined since April with a right wrist injury. Alcaraz announced his return on social media Thursday, setting up a tournament that will proceed without its defending champion and top seed.