World number one Jannik Sinner has withdrawn from the US Open with a right knee injury, ruling him out of the tournament for the first time since his 2024 title win. The 25-year-old Italian, who has not competed since claiming Wimbledon in July, said despite working closely with his medical team he still needs more time to recover, calling the decision "difficult" given New York's special place in his career. The withdrawal comes just a day after his great rival Carlos Alcaraz confirmed he would play despite a four-month absence through a wrist injury, meaning the pair have now missed being at the same Grand Slam on three consecutive occasions.

Sinner won the US Open in 2024 and was runner-up to Alcaraz there last year, part of a duopoly in which the two shared all four majors between them in both 2024 and 2025. Their rivalry has cooled somewhat in 2026, however, with only one meeting so far, a Monte Carlo final in April that Sinner won to reclaim the world number one ranking he has held ever since. With Sinner out, Germany's Alexander Zverev becomes top seed at Flushing Meadows, ahead of Alcaraz and Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime, when the main draw begins on Sunday 30 August.