Sinner’s withdrawal from US Open
Jannik Sinner, the world number one, has announced his withdrawal from the US Open due to a persistent right knee injury. The Italian player confirmed his decision on Friday, meaning the final Grand Slam event of the season will proceed without one of its main contenders. Sinner has not competed since sustaining the injury earlier this month, following his victory at Wimbledon where he secured his fifth major title.
The 24-year-old had previously pulled out of both the Cincinnati Open and the Canadian Open. These events are significant hard-court tournaments that serve as key preparations for the Grand Slam in New York. Sinner shared a statement on X, explaining the difficult decision:
“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 still need more time to recover from my right knee issue.”
This will mark the first Grand Slam that Sinner has missed since his debut at the US Open in 2019. His absence is expected to draw further attention to the physical demands placed on players by the tennis calendar.
Impact on the tournament and other withdrawals
Sinner’s withdrawal was announced just one day after world number two Carlos Alcaraz confirmed his participation in the US Open at Flushing Meadows. Alcaraz is making his return after a four-month absence due to a wrist injury. He had previously beaten Sinner in last year’s US Open final. With Sinner out, Alcaraz now heads to New York as the highest-ranked player and is considered one of the favourites to win the title, despite his own recent injury issues. Sinner’s absence removes one of Alcaraz’s primary rivals, potentially easing his path as he aims for an eighth Grand Slam crown.
The US Open is scheduled to run from 23 August to 13 September.
In addition to Sinner, Jack Draper has also withdrawn from the US Open. The Lawn Tennis Association confirmed the British player’s absence shortly after Sinner’s announcement. While the LTA did not specify the nature of Draper’s injury, media reports indicate that the 24-year-old withdrew due to a long-term left arm problem. Draper’s best Grand Slam performance was reaching the semi-finals at the 2024 US Open.
Draper’s ongoing injury struggles
Draper has been contending with a bone bruise in his dominant left arm. After two challenging matches in the US, it is understood that he has concluded he requires additional recovery time. He had climbed to a career-high ranking of world number four in 2025 but was forced to cut his season short that year due to a bone injury in his arm. Draper has also faced a knee injury this year. Currently ranked 143rd, he experienced early exits in both Montreal and Cincinnati.
Sinner expressed his sadness and disappointment regarding his withdrawal, noting that New York holds a special place in his heart and that he was looking forward to playing in front of the fans there.
The US Open will commence on 23 August.
Source: rnz.co.nz
