Sinner Out of the US Open: World Number One's Knee Rules Him Out of New York

Jannik Sinner has pulled out of the 2026 US Open with a knee injury, ending his bid for a third Grand Slam title of the year before it begins. The world number one confirmed the decision on 21 August, two days before the tournament's opening round at Flushing Meadows, which runs from 23 August to 13 September.

The 25-year-old Italian had not played competitively since winning Wimbledon in July. He said he realised after training in Monte Carlo that his right knee still needed more recovery time. "My team and I have made the difficult decision that I will not compete at the US Open," Sinner said. "I'm sad and disappointed, as New York has a special place in my heart" (BBC Sport).

The writing had been on the wall since 9 August, when Sinner withdrew from the Cincinnati Open — a key warm-up event where he reached the final in 2025. At the time, he said simply: "I'm not ready to compete" (The Guardian). That decision, made after consulting his doctors and his team, raised immediate concerns about his fitness for the year's final Grand Slam (Sky Sports). Sinner had not been seen on court since his Wimbledon triumph, and the weeks ticked by without a competitive appearance.

Sinner's absence leaves the men's draw without its top seed — the ranking position that protects the best players from meeting each other in the early rounds. He was listed as the number-one entrant on the 2026 US Open men's singles entry list.

So far this season, Sinner has won six titles and built a 34-match winning streak — a run that ranks among the longest on the ATP Tour in recent years (Yahoo Sports). For a player at that level of dominance, the gap between Wimbledon and now stretches the patience of anyone who follows the sport.

The US Open was the last opportunity to add to his 2026 Grand Slam haul. Now, that wait extends to the new season.

For fans, the tournament loses its standout figure. Sinner's precision from the baseline — the back of the court, where long rallies are built and broken — has defined the men's tour this year. A player who makes the game look orderly will not be on court in New York. The draw opens up for everyone else, and whoever lifts the trophy will do so without beating the best player in the world.