Jannik Sinner withdraws from US Open with right knee issue

World number one Jannik Sinner has withdrawn from the upcoming US Open in New York on 21 August 2026 because of a right knee injury, the Italian announced.

The 25-year-old has not played competitively since winning the Wimbledon title in July, where he lifted his fifth career Grand Slam singles trophy by beating Alexander Zverev in the All England Club final. Sinner won the US Open in 2024 and reached the New York final last year when he was beaten by Carlos Alcaraz; Alcaraz announced he would compete at Flushing Meadows on the day before Sinner’s withdrawal after a four-month absence with a wrist injury. With Alcaraz sidelined for parts of the season, Sinner dominated the men's tour in 2026 and stood comfortably clear at the top of the world rankings.

"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," he said. "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."

Sinner and Alcaraz produced a clean sweep of the Grand Slam titles in 2024 and 2025, winning four majors apiece in a duopoly which has morphed into a generational duel. The pair have not both been present at the past three Grand Slams, with Alcaraz's wrist problem forcing him out of the French Open and Wimbledon this year.

At the Australian Open, Sinner's shock loss to Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals stopped a fourth Grand Slam final in a row between him and Alcaraz. Three of last year's four major finals were contested by Sinner and Alcaraz, as were the end-of-season ATP Finals, and the pair have met only once so far in 2026.

Sinner beat Alcaraz in April's Monte Carlo final, a victory that ensured the Italian reclaimed the top spot in the world rankings "a place which he has not looked like relinquishing since."

In Sinner's absence, Germany's Zverev will be the top seed at Flushing Meadows, ahead of Alcaraz and Canadian third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime. The US Open singles main draws start on Sunday 30 August.