World number one Jannik Sinner has announced his withdrawal from the US Open because of a persistent right knee injury, removing one of the tournament’s top contenders. The 24-year-old Italian, who secured his fifth major title at Wimbledon last month, has not competed since sustaining the injury earlier this month.
Sinner had already missed the Cincinnati Open and the Canadian Open, two important hard-court events leading up to the Grand Slam in New York. Despite intensive rehabilitation efforts with his team and medical staff, he revealed that he still requires more time to recover.
“After returning to the court in Monte Carlo recently, it became clear that my right knee issue has not healed enough to compete at the US Open,” Sinner stated on social media. His withdrawal comes just a day after world number two Carlos Alcaraz confirmed his participation at Flushing Meadows following a four-month hiatus from competitive tennis.
Alcaraz, who defeated Sinner in last year’s US Open final, now enters the tournament as the highest-ranked player and a leading favorite to claim the title, despite his own recent injury challenges. Sinner’s absence potentially eases Alcaraz’s path as he aims for his eighth Grand Slam victory. The US Open is scheduled to take place from August 23 to September 13.
In a related development, British player Jack Draper has also pulled out of the US Open. The Lawn Tennis Association announced Draper’s withdrawal shortly after Sinner’s, though the exact nature of his injury was not disclosed. Media Draper is dealing with a long-standing left arm issue.
Draper, who reached a career-high ranking of world number four in 2025, has faced setbacks this season due to a bone injury in his arm and a knee problem. Currently ranked 143rd, he experienced early exits in both Montreal and Cincinnati. His best Grand Slam performance came at the 2024 US Open, where he advanced to the semi-finals.
Additionally, former world number four Holger Rune will miss the tournament as he continues his recovery from a severe left Achilles injury sustained last year. The 23-year-old Dane, now ranked 102nd, has not competed since October and decided against using a Grand Slam as his comeback event.
Rune has been training alongside Carlos Alcaraz in Murcia, expressing optimism about his progress. “I want to thank Carlos and his team for a great week of training in Murcia. I am very pleased with my improvements and level; we will keep working,” Rune shared on social media, accompanied by a photo with Alcaraz.
