Jannik Sinner, the world number one in tennis, will not participate in the US Open due to an injury to his right knee. Orphaned of the planet’s top racket, this year’s Wimbledon winner, the fourth Grand Slam of the season played in the United States, will indeed count on the presence of Carlos Alcaraz, who returns after his long wrist injury.
The Murcian confirmed yesterday that he will play the US Open (August 30 to September 13), ending an absence of more than four months caused by the right wrist injury he suffered in April in the first round of the Conde Godó. The announcement comes after weeks of recovery and preparation, during which the Spaniard has been progressively increasing the intensity of his training, as he has shown on social media.
“Although I have been working hard with my team and my medical team, we have now had to make the difficult decision that I will not be able to compete in the US Open this year,” Sinner said in a statement. The San Candido native explained that in recent days he returned to training on court in Monte Carlo, but realized that he is still not recovered from his right knee problem. “Obviously I am very sad and disappointed, as New York holds a special place in my heart. I was very eager to return and play in that electric atmosphere in front of the great fans there,” he added. The Italian, world number one, has not played an official match since winning Wimbledon for the second consecutive year.
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… pic.twitter.com/9eoYS29jpO
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— Jannik Sinner (@janniksin) August 21, 2026
“Now the plan is to stay in Europe and continue with his recovery alongside the medical and performance teams, with the goal of being ready for the Asian tour and the tournaments in Beijing and Shanghai,” he concluded.
Before confirming his withdrawal from the US Open, Sinner had also withdrawn from the Masters 1000 in Toronto and Cincinnati due to the same physical problem. In Cincinnati, where he was scheduled to return to competition, he explained that his right knee still bothered him and that if he was not at 100%, he would not compete in the US Open either. Sinner’s withdrawal, the winner of this competition in 2024, will change the landscape of the men’s draw, in which the Italian was initially the top seed.
The US Open will be held from August 30 to September 13 in New York. The Italian’s absence leaves Alcaraz, who will defend the title he won last year, as one of the main references of the tournament.