Key Takeaways
- Jannik Sinner withdrew from the 2026 US Open because his right knee needs more recovery time, saying he is "very sad and disappointed" to miss New York.
- The world No. 1 will continue rehabilitation in Europe without surgery and aims to return for October's Asian hard-court swing in Beijing and Shanghai.
- Sinner's first Grand Slam absence since 2019 makes Alexander Zverev the top seed and marks the third straight major without both Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
Jannik Sinner has announced that he won't be competing in this year's US Open due to his ongoing right knee injury.
Posting a statement Friday (August 21), the men's ATP world No. 1 took to X and Instagram, writing: "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."
Explaining that he's been back on the court desperately trying to get back into game shape, he added: "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."
Sinner added that New York holds a special meaning for him and that he had been eagerly anticipating the return. "I'm obviously very sad and disappointed, as New York has a special place in my heart," he wrote. "I was very much looking forward to coming back and playing in the electric atmosphere in front of the great fans there."
A member of Sinner's team told BBC Sport the injury does not require surgery. His camp confirmed he will stay in Europe to continue rehabilitation and is targeting a return during the Asian hard-court swing in Beijing and Shanghai in October.
The withdrawal marks the first Grand Slam Sinner has missed since his major debut at the 2019 US Open. It also makes him only the second ATP No. 1 to miss the US Open since rankings began in 1973 — Pete Sampras skipped the event in 1999 with a lower back injury, per ESPN.
The timing creates a striking contrast. Sinner's announcement came one day after rival Carlos Alcaraz confirmed his own return from a four-month wrist injury absence with a charged "HERE WE GO!" post on X, setting up a tournament where the two rivals will once agin not be at the same tournament.
This is the third consecutive Grand Slam without both players present — Alcaraz missed the French Open and Wimbledon, and Sinner now misses the US Open. For more on their rivalry, see Complex's breakdown of the Alcaraz-Sinner head-to-head.
With Sinner out, Alexander Zverev moves to the top seed at Flushing Meadows, Alcaraz slots in at No. 2, and Felix Auger-Aliassime takes the No. 3 spot. Spain's Carlos Taberner enters the main draw in Sinner's place. Main draw singles play begins August 30.
