Jannik Sinner withdraws from US Open with persistent right knee injury

Right knee injury forces New York withdrawal

World number one Jannik Sinner announced on Friday, 21 August 2026, that he will not play in the US Open due to a persistent right knee issue. The 24-year-old Italian reached the decision with his team after testing his movement during practice sessions in Monte Carlo. Sinner had previously undergone medical evaluations in Milan and at JMedical, the Juventus clinic in Turin. While examinations ruled out severe structural damage, medical staff concluded that the joint needed further recovery before enduring best-of-five set matches.

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 U.S. 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.

Interrupted summer campaign after Wimbledon

Sinner has not played since 12 July 2026, when he defeated the field at Wimbledon to capture his fifth career Grand Slam title. The knee problem led him to withdraw from two North American hard-court tune-up events, the Canadian Open in Montreal and the Cincinnati Open. Before the injury, Sinner assembled a 44–3 match record in 2026, collecting six titles including Masters victories in Indian Wells and Miami. His only Grand Slam defeat this season occurred at Roland Garros in May, where he lost in the second round to Juan Manuel Cerúndolo after leading by two sets and experiencing heat exhaustion.

Impact on the US Open draw

The withdrawal leaves world number two Carlos Alcaraz as the highest-ranked competitor at Flushing Meadows. Alcaraz confirmed his return on 20 August 2026 after a four-month absence caused by a right wrist injury that forced him to miss the French Open and Wimbledon. Alcaraz defeated Sinner in the 2025 US Open final and is seeking an eighth career Grand Slam title. Sinner won the New York tournament in 2024 and finished as runner-up in 2025, meaning the event will proceed without its previous two finalists.

Physical management and tournament history

Physical limitations have affected Sinner at several Grand Slam events in recent years. In addition to his heat exhaustion at Roland Garros, he required medical treatment for dizziness during a five-set loss to Daniil Medvedev at Wimbledon in 2024, and retired with a knee injury against Andrey Rublev at Roland Garros in 2022. Early-career retirements also occurred due to blisters in Vienna in 2020 and Miami in 2022, an ankle sprain in Sofia in 2022, and a muscular issue in Halle in 2023. At the 2025 Australian Open, he recovered from hand tremors and stomach discomfort to beat Holger Rune in four sets.

Recovery timetable and Asian tour targets

Sinner plans to remain in Europe to continue rehabilitation with his medical and conditioning team. His primary goal is to regain match fitness for the autumn Asian swing, targeting tournaments in Beijing and Shanghai in late September and early October. Sinner expressed his disappointment to fans ahead of the New York tournament, which is scheduled to conclude on 13 September 2026.

I'm obviously very sad and disappointed, as New York holds a special place in my heart. I couldn't wait to return to play in that electrifying atmosphere, in front of a fantastic crowd.