Jannik Sinner Withdraws From 2026 US Open Over Right Knee Injury

World No. 1 Jannik Sinner will miss the 2026 US Open after a lingering right knee injury failed to improve enough for him to compete in New York.

Jannik Sinner has officially withdrawn from the 2026 US Open because of a right knee injury, removing the top-ranked player in men’s tennis from the season’s final Grand Slam. The Italian had been attempting to recover in time for New York after the same issue kept him out of recent hard-court events in Montreal and Cincinnati.

In an announcement published by the US Open, Sinner said he and his team returned to the court in Monte Carlo but determined that he still needed more time to recover. The 24-year-old said the decision left him “very sad and disappointed” because of his connection to New York and the tournament’s atmosphere.

Sinner’s withdrawal is a major development after a dominant 2026 season. He owns a 44-3 record this year and has won six titles, including Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo, Madrid, Rome and Wimbledon. His most recent competitive appearance came at the All England Club, where he captured his fifth Grand Slam title.

The knee problem then disrupted his North American hard-court preparation. Sinner missed both Montreal and Cincinnati, and despite continuing rehabilitation work, the injury has now forced him out of the US Open entirely before the singles main draw begins.

His absence also changes the men’s championship picture in New York. Carlos Alcaraz has confirmed his return from a right wrist injury and will defend the title he won over Sinner in the 2025 final, while Alexander Zverev and Novak Djokovic are among the other leading contenders who could benefit from the world No. 1 being removed from the draw.

Sinner has built one of the strongest recent records at Flushing Meadows, winning the 2024 US Open before finishing runner-up to Alcaraz a year later. That run made him one of the clear favorites to contend again in 2026 before the knee issue interrupted his season.

For now, Sinner’s focus shifts fully to recovery rather than attempting to play through the injury at a major. The US Open will move forward without the world No. 1, while his timetable for returning to competition will depend on how the right knee responds to additional treatment and rest.