'Sad and disappointed' Sinner to miss first Grand Slam in seven years

Top-ranked Jannik Sinner will miss the US Open after failing to recover from a knee injury, ending a streak of Grand Slam appearances that began in 2019. The Italian player has been sidelined since winning his second consecutive Wimbledon title last month.

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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 announced his withdrawal on Friday, stating that despite intensive work with his medical team, he needs more time to heal his right knee. "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 wrote on X. "I'm obviously very sad and disappointed, as New York has a special place in my heart."

The 25-year-old had already pulled out of the hard-court tournaments in Montreal and Cincinnati, which typically serve as warm-ups for the US Open. Sinner was the defending champion at the US Open, having defeated Taylor Fritz in the 2024 final. He lost to Carlos Alcaraz in last year's final, a match that followed their encounters in the previous three Grand Slam finals.

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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.

Alcaraz, who has also been dealing with a wrist injury, confirmed his readiness to play in New York. Sinner's absence is a significant blow to the tournament and the men's tennis landscape, where his rivalry with Alcaraz has been a dominant narrative. Sinner has had a strong season, with a 44-3 record and six titles, though he experienced a notable collapse at the French Open.

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I'm obviously very sad and disappointed, as New York has a special place in my heart. I was very much looking forward to coming back and playing in the electric atmosphere in front of the great fans there.