The world number one, 25-year-old Italian Jannik Sinner, will not take part in the 2026 US Open. The tennis player has not had time to recover from a right knee issue and was forced to withdraw from the last Grand Slam tournament of the season. As reported by Sport RBC.UA, this is his first withdrawal from a "Slam" due to injury. The Italian's last official match was a victory at Wimbledon in July, after which he has not stepped onto the court in ATP tournaments.

Reason for withdrawal: right knee issue

According to sources, Sinner has been working on his recovery with his team and medical staff for several weeks, but the condition of his right knee did not allow him to fully prepare for the US Open. The Italian has not played any official matches since his triumph at London's "Rosmandon" [Wimbledon], which in itself was a signal that the rehabilitation process had been prolonged. Ultimately, the medical staff and the athlete himself concluded that forcing a return would be a mistake.

Sinner's reaction and training in Monte Carlo

"Despite working hard with my team and medical staff, we made the difficult decision that I will not be able to compete at the US Open this year," Sinner stated. According to him, in the last few days he trained on the court in Monte Carlo but realized he needs more time to recover. "Of course, I am very upset and disappointed, as New York holds a special place in my heart," added the Italian, for whom the US Open is a tournament of special status: it is here that he became champion in 2024, and last season he reached the final, losing to Carlos Alcaraz.

Context: Duel with Alcaraz and the Spaniard's return

Sinner's withdrawal occurred just one day after his main rival, Carlos Alcaraz, announced his participation in the US Open. The Spaniard missed about four months due to a wrist injury, making his return in New York particularly noticeable. In 2024 and 2025, Sinner and Alcaraz effectively dominated men's tennis, winning four Grand Slam tournaments each; in 2025, they played against each other in three of the four "major" finals, as well as meeting in the final of the ATP Finals. However, due to injuries, their rivalry has recently lost its regularity: they have not been present simultaneously at the last three Grand Slam tournaments. In the current season, they crossed paths only once — in the final of the Monte Carlo tournament in April, where Sinner won, regaining the top spot in the world rankings.

New seedings in New York

Following Sinner's withdrawal from the US Open, the structure of the men's singles draw has changed. The number one seed in New York will be German Alexander Zverev, second will be Carlos Alcaraz, and the third position among the seeds will be taken by Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime. Thus, the main title contender, who won this tournament last year, will be forced to watch the competition from the sidelines, opening up additional opportunities for the other participants in the draw.

Timeline and tournament start

The main draw of the men's singles tournament at the 2026 US Open starts on Sunday, August 30. Sinner's withdrawal became one of the key events of the pre-start week and added intrigue to the title race, especially against the backdrop of Alcaraz's return after a long break. Earlier, within the same series of preparations for the "Slam," it was reported that Novak Djokovic felt unwell directly on the court in Cincinnati, which further highlights the high injury rate and tension of the current men's tennis season.