Sinner Withdraws From US Open With Knee Injury
The world number one confronts recovery needs after Wimbledon glory, leaving the hard-court field to recalibrate without his baseline command.
Jannik Sinner has withdrawn from the US Open after failing to recover from a right knee injury that has kept him out since his Wimbledon title defense. The decision marks the first Grand Slam absence for the 25-year-old since his 2019 debut and leaves the defending 2024 champion on the sideline as the main draw opens August 30.
The toll of a packed calendar
Sinner entered the year with a 44-3 record and five Grand Slam titles already secured. A dramatic French Open exit against Juan Manuel Cerundolo exposed physical limits when heat and extended rallies eroded a two-set lead. He rested until Wimbledon, where victory over Alexander Zverev restored momentum and delivered a second straight All England Club crown.
“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,” Sinner wrote in an Instagram post. “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.”
Seeding ripple and rival timing
Carlos Alcaraz announced he will make his comeback from wrist trouble the day before Sinner’s withdrawal. The absence of Sinner’s heavy topspin forehand and crosscourt redirection gives returners extra time to step inside the baseline and test second serves with inside-in angles. Zverev steps in as top seed, altering quarter and semifinal paths while Sinner’s lead of more than 5,000 ranking points keeps the number-one spot secure.
Hard courts reward early aggression and quick directional changes. Without the Italian pinning opponents deep, slice backhands gain more opportunities to neutralize pace and extend rallies into third or fourth shots. Monte Carlo sessions showed persistent discomfort on lateral movements required for wide serves and recovery steps.
Points buffer shapes long view
The 5,000-point cushion lets Sinner skip additional hard-court events without ranking pressure. Attention turns to how the rest of the top ten adjust schedules to chase the year-end number-one spot. Zverev’s new seeding position places him on a potential collision course with emerging challengers who prepared for lefty slice variations on the faster New York surface. The Italian will rebuild match fitness indoors where lower bounce can mask any lingering stiffness, prioritizing full strength for the swing ahead.